Night-Time HDR Imagery of Artificial Light in Exeter, UK, 2023

RAW CR2 imagery from a DSLR camera survey of artificial light across Exeter, UK, collected between February and May 2023. High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos were taken in each cardinal direction and towards zenith at locations selected via stratified random sampling of land use classes. Fieldworkers from the University of Exeter collected this data to create flux-calibrated 360-degree maps of the city's lighting environment.

Use Cases

• Training computer vision models to detect and classify artificial light sources based on HDR imagery.
• Analyzing spatial distribution of light pollution based on stratified random sampling across land use classes.
• Creating calibrated maps of the night-time lighting environment for urban planning or ecological impact studies.
• Studying the correlation between land use and artificial light intensity using the survey's sampling methodology.

Strengths

• Data collection followed a structured methodology using stratified random sampling and round-robin quadrant selection to ensure spatial distribution.
• Imagery includes High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos in all cardinal directions plus a zenith shot at each location, providing a comprehensive view.
• Primary data collection was conducted by named researchers (Sam Morrell and Maisy Inston) from the University of Exeter, suggesting academic rigor.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale projects.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to a single UK city surveyed over a four-month period.

Provenance

Source

University of Exeter (primarily Sam Morrell and Maisy Inston), archived by the Environmental Information Data Centre.

Collection Method

Field survey using a DSLR camera on a tripod, taking HDR imagery in cardinal directions and zenith. Locations chosen via stratified random sampling of land use classes with round-robin draws across city quadrants.

Time Range

February to May 2023

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-21 14:10:49.189119; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Exeter, UK