This dataset represents measurements collected from a network of 75 urban glow sensors within the Bundaberg Region. The principal data sets are point data representing the readings from the Sky Quality Meter (SQM) sensors. Data from all sensors are processed every 15 minutes using natural neighbour interpolation to generate a raster of urban glow across two sub-networks (City and Coastal).
Vector Point Data
The point data are contained as individual feature classes for each processing time within an ArcGIS file geodatabase
- ID: The SQM site identifier
- Description: The locality and the number of the SQM in that locality.
- deviceGroup: The categorisation of the SQM devices for processing of the data within sub-networks (i.e. coastal network or city network)
- obsLocalTime: The date and time in Australian Eastern Standard time (UTC+10) of the observation
- magnitude: SQM reading is a numeric value indicating the relative brightness of the night sky. Lower numbers indicate a brighter sky, while higher numbers indicate a darker sky. A dark sky with minimal light pollution typically registers as 22 or above. Units are measured in magnitudes per square arc second.
- skyTemp: The temperature of the nearest object (i.e. clouds) in a 10 degree field of view above the sensor. This value will be low if there is nothing, but higher if there is cloud.
- ambTemp: Measurement of ambient air temperature taken at the specified point in time.
- cloudCover: skyTemp & ambTemp reading values are translated as follows:
- no cloud cover
- minimal effects from cloud cover
- moderate/medium effects from cloud cover
- high impact from cloud cover
Raster Data
A Natural Neighbour interpolation has been performed using the sites with valid SQM values to produce a Geotiff raster to depict the hot spots or bright areas of urban glow
Mapbooks
The input points and the generated hotspot raster are compiled into a nightly PDF map book for easy interpretation of the results.
The Reducing Urban Glow project page can be found here https://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/environment/reducing-urban-glow
