High Resolution Population Maps for Low Income Nations: Combining Land Cover and Census in East Africa

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001298
• Publication Date: 2007-12-11T17:39:54Z
• Authors: Andrew J. Tatem; Abdisalan M. Noor; Craig von Hagen; Antonio Di Gregorio; Simon I. Hay
• Keywords: Land Cover

Between 2005 and 2050, the human population is forecast to grow by 2.7 billion, with vast majority of this growth occurring in low income countries. This likely have significant social, economic environmental impacts, make achievement international development goals more difficult. The measurement, monitoring potential mitigation these impacts require high resolution, contemporary data on distributions. In countries, however, where changes will be concentrated, least information distribution exists. paper we investigate whether satellite imagery combination land cover census can used create inexpensive, resolution easily-updatable settlement maps over large areas.We examine various approaches for production East African region (Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda Tanzania) fine exists, test accuracies map existing products. results show that combining census, important producing accurate maps.We find semi-automated mapping at unprecedented spatial produces than products undertaken as little $0.01 per km(2). resulting are a product Malaria Atlas Project (MAP: http://www.map.ox.ac.uk) freely available.