Regional Population Estimation Using Satellite Imagery

Population data provides statistical information that can in turn support decision making processes. It provides essential information regarding many practices such as rescue operations or humanitarian actions, which require the estimation of local population. While traditional approaches are possible, they tend to be time consuming and expensive. Copernicus Earth Observation data (Sentinel 2 satellite images) provides high resolution satellite imagery that could be a useful alternative to collecting census data since it is significantly cheaper than traditional methods. The purpose of the following study examines a population extraction method that is based on open source high resolution images retrieved from Sentinel 2, as proposed by the remote task[1] by the imageCLEF2017[2] campaign. This paper describes a methodology for exporting a population estimation using satellite imagery based on the use of classification techniques coupled with a statistical forecast on historical data.