One of the biggest challenges in providing relief to people living in poverty is locating them. The availability of accurate and reliable information on the location of impoverished zones is surprisingly lacking for much of the world. Stanford researchers have found a way to use satellite technology to accurately identify poverty in areas previously void of valuable survey information. The solution involves a sophisticated combination of “nightlight” data—areas that are brighter at night are usually more developed—and daytime data like visible roads, urban areas and farmland. The researchers found that this method did a surprisingly good job predicting the distribution of poverty, outperforming existing approaches.
Locating and fighting poverty with satellite data
More of Today's Solutions
Illinois found a smarter way to close the menopause care gap
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton set up a series of financial wellness conversations with women around the state. ...
Read MoreUsing eucalyptus oil to repel household pests: what the experts say
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You might already have eucalyptus oil at home, maybe for the diffuser or a bundle you hang in ...
Read MoreGut health for guys—should men take probiotics?
Have you heard of probiotics? Chances are you have a basic understanding that they are good for your gut health—but do they have any ...
Read MoreResearchers discover more than 200 freshwater fish species
There always seems to be a lot more talk surrounding species that we have lost to human habitat encroachment, over-hunting, and the ripple effects ...
Read More
