The electricity scene from above: Exploring power grid inconsistencies using satellite data in Accra, Ghana
Zeal Shah, Noah Klugman, Gabriel Cadamuro, Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Research Associate Feng-Chi Hsu, Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Director and Senior Research Associate Christopher D. Elvidge, and Jay Taneja write about how complicated systems are complicated to monitor. The electric grid is one of the most complicated systems, and subsequently goes under-monitored in many regions around the world that cannot easily afford expensive meters. Past work has shown that images taken by satellites during the night, capturing nighttime illumination (“nightlights”), could provide a proxy measurement of grid performance for minimal cost. May 17, 2022.