Research Summary: Economic Corridor Detection from Multi-Source Earth Observation and Commercial Geospatial Data Across Nigeria's Kilometre-Scale Grid

Researchers have developed a reproducible multi-proxy geospatial framework to detect candidate economic corridors across Nigeria using a kilometre-scale analytical grid. Designed to address gaps where administrative records, firm registries, and localized output statistics are absent or incomplete, the methodology combines satellite Earth observation datasets—including ESA WorldCover and NASA VIIRS night-time lights—with Google Open Buildings footprint density and point-of-interest data from Overture Places and OpenStreetMap.

Why it matters

This approach enables objective macroeconomic and spatial planning in data-scarce environments without requiring costly, lagging traditional statistical censuses. It provides infrastructure and economic planners with a systematic tool to identify emerging trade corridors and prioritize capital investments. Consequently, it lowers the informational barrier for national spatial strategy and regional economic integration.

Key insights

• Economic corridor detection at national scale is frequently impeded in developing regions by incomplete firm registries, transaction flows, and localized economic data.
• The analytical framework operates across a standardized kilometre-scale grid to enable granular spatial screening across Nigeria.
• The framework integrates multiple independent datasets: ESA WorldCover (built-up land cover), NASA VIIRS Black Marble (night-time light radiance), and Google Open Buildings (footprint density).
• Commercial activity is captured via point-of-interest densities from Overture Places and OpenStreetMap alongside a composite urban-intensity proxy reflecting population, built-up share, and radiance.
• Candidate identification incorporates a dual-proxy gating mechanism requiring corroborated built-up evidence alongside activity metrics.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31675