For the past fifteen years NGDC has provided satellite derived maps of the spatial distribution and brightness nighttime lights for environmental, energy, and economic applications. The consistent response of the nighttime lights user community is that they want higher spatial resolution and an ability to discriminate lighting types. We recently completed a high spectral resolution survey of the emission characteristics of a wide range of lighting types (incandescents, fluorescents, metal halides, high pressure sodiums, low pressure sodium, LEDs and others). The laboratory spectra have been used to guide the classification of lighting types observed in airborne hyperspectral imagery. The results are being used in the design of a Nightsat sensor.
