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From space to place: mapping poverty in Turkish regions with NASA’s global gridded relative deprivation index

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Abstract

This study examines the spatial distribution of poverty in Turkish states using zonal statistics techniques. The recently released Global Gridded Relative Deprivation Index (GRDIv1) dataset by NASA has been utilized. The GRDIv1 index contains six pivotal components: Child Dependency Ratio, Subnational Development Index, Infant Mortality Rate, Built-Up to Non-Built-Up Ratios, VIIRS nighttime lights, and VIIRS Nighttime Lights (VNL) Slope Component. All the components capture various aspects of regional poverty differences. The results show the eastern regions have significantly higher levels of deprivation than the western regions. This disparity is attributed to conflicts, unemployment, and illiteracy in the East, while the West benefits from higher development. The analysis of the ratio of Built-Up Areas to Non-Built-Up Areas reveals a complex distribution of urbanization and industrialization, with the western Marmara region emerging as a center of development and industrial activity. Moreover, the analysis of Nocturnal Illumination Patterns, based on VIIRS nighttime light data, further confirms the higher levels of development in the west and the deprivation in the east. This study objectively proves that the Eastern region of Turkiye contains areas with much higher deprivation than does central and western regions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Milos Popovic for his inspiring and informative mapping tutorials.

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  1. Arab Dahir Hassan and Mahat Maalim Ibrahim made equal contributions to this work.

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  1. Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Arab Dahir Hassan & Mahat Maalim Ibrahim

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  1. Arab Dahir Hassan
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Hassan, A.D., Ibrahim, M.M. From space to place: mapping poverty in Turkish regions with NASA’s global gridded relative deprivation index. Spat. Inf. Res. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-024-00579-9

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