Geographia Technica, Vol 20, Issue 1, 2025, pp. 97-111
DIVERGENT NIGHTTIME LIGHT DYNAMICS IN BANGKOK AND SURROUNDING PROVINCES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: INSIGHTS FROM GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE
Wipop PAENGWANGTHONG 
, Santithon ARNAN , Jiraporn KULSOONTORNRAT
ABSTRACT: This study investigates the dynamics of nighttime light (NTL) intensity in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand, during the COVID-19 pandemic using Google Earth Engine (GEE). Leveraging the cloud-based processing capabilities of GEE, we analyzed Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) data to assess the spatial and temporal impacts of the pandemic on human activity and socioeconomic conditions across different urban zones. The Average Light Index (ALI) and Index of Change (ICH) were calculated to quantify and compare changes in NTL intensity between Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. Results revealed a general decrease in NTL intensity during the initial year of the pandemic (2020), particularly in the central business districts of Bangkok, with a mean ICH value of 95.28 indicating a decrease of approximately 4.72%. However, the surrounding districts exhibited greater resilience, with a mean ICH value of 99.56 indicating a slight increase in NTL intensity. A partial recovery was observed in the post-pandemic period (2021), with Bangkok’s mean ICH value rising to 99.38, but certain districts, especially those reliant on tourism or entertainment, continued to exhibit lower NTL intensity compared to pre-pandemic levels. This study underscores the diverse and spatially varied impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on NTL dynamics across the BMR, highlighting the importance of considering the heterogeneous nature of urban areas when assessing pandemic-related effects and formulating recovery strategies.
Keywords: Nighttime lights, COVID-19 impacts, Urban dynamics, Google Earth Engine
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