Wildfires in 2023

Spatial Clustering using Satellite Imagery

Bogdan G. Popescu

John Cabot University

Statistical Discrimination

Statistical Discrimination - use of statistical information or group-based averages to make decisions or judgments about individuals.

It can serve as a decision-making tool, particularly when individual-level information is limited or expensive to obtain.

This approach assumes that certain statistical patterns or averages observed within a group can provide insights into the likely characteristics of an individual belonging to that group.

Statistical discrimination can perpetuate biases and inequalities

Hot Spot Analysis and Statistical Discrimination

Hot spot analysis involves identifying geographic areas or regions where certain characteristics or behaviors are concentrated.

Hot spot analysis aims to uncover spatial patterns and concentrations of specific variables or attributes within a given area.

By employing statistical methods, researchers can identify areas where certain phenomena are more prevalent than in surrounding regions

This approach is valuable for understanding spatial patterns and making informed decisions based on the distribution of specific factors.

Applications of Hot Spot Analysis

Criminal Justice - Identifying hot spots of criminal activity to allocate resources effectively

Public Health Hot spot analysis in public health helps identify regions with elevated risks of disease outbreaks or health issues.

Education Hot spot analysis can be applied to educational data to identify areas with lower academic performance, high dropout rates, or other education-related challenges.

How does it work

Hot spot analysis in statistical discrimination relies on geospatial data, statistical techniques, and mapping tools to visualize and interpret patterns within a given area.

It enables decision-makers to tailor interventions and policies to the specific needs of certain geographic regions, addressing disparities and optimizing resource allocation

It a similar way to statistical discrimination, it’s essential to consider ethical implications and potential biases in data collection and analysis to avoid reinforcing stereotypes or discriminating against certain communities.

Intro

  • In 2023, the world experienced a significant increases in the frequency of wildfires

  • Wildfires pose challenges to ecosystem, communities and firefighting efforts

Objectives

This exercise aims to map all wildfires that happened in 2023 on a month-by-month basis

It also tries to perform statistical analyses to indentify statistical clusters.

Data

  • The data is based off of The Terra and Aqua combined MCD64A1 Version 6.1 Burned Area data product

  • This is a monthly, global gridded 500m product containing per-pixel burned-area and quality information

Maps for the Whole World: January 2023

Maps for the Whole World: July 2023

Maps for the Whole World: August 2023

Maps for the Whole World: Sep. 2023

Maps for Europe: June 2023

Maps for Europe: July 2023