Multi-Resolution Global Population Model for Overflight Risk Analyses

In 2003, RTI International selected the LandScan 2002 Global Population Database, distributed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as a consistent and reliable source for population count distributions needed to estimate overflight risks. Oak Ridge National Laboratory provided raw LandScan 2002 data in packed binary files, which were large and incompatible with RTI International risk estimation software. To ensure compatibility and reduce storage requirements, RTI International developed a process to convert the packed binary files into Environmental Systems Research Institute’s ArcView shapefile format, and reorganize the data into multi-resolution coverage population tiles. This paper presents the methodology used to accomplish these processing steps. The resulting multi-resolution population coverage preserves resolution in areas with high population density and along coastlines, while dramatically reducing computational effort and storage requirements. This methodology gracefully solves the data intensive problem of building a population model while providing simple, easy to comprehend graphics depicting population data on a geographical display.