Post-disaster resettlement insights from nighttime lights

Abstract

We used nighttime lights (NTL) to analyze the emergence and progression of post-disaster resettlement sites, a risk mitigation strategy concerning millions of internally displaced Filipinos. Leveraging VIIRS-DNB monthly NTL, our country-wide analysis provides quantitative assessment to supplement existing survey studies, aiming to track the sustainability of these communities. We found that NTL captures the seasonal movements of the "ambient population," driven by economic demands, and that factors such as comprehensive planning and proximity to mega-city centers contribute to the resettlement's success. Our study demonstrates the value of the free and accessible NTL data as a means to provide retrospective insights and as a monitoring tool to ensure resettlement sustainability.