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Satellite Data for Environmental Justice: A Scoping Review of the Literature in the United States
  • +12
  • Tanya Kreutzer Sayyed,
  • Ufuoma Ovienmhada,
  • Mitra Kashani,
  • Karn Vohra,
  • Gaige Hunter Kerr,
  • Catherine O'donnell,
  • Maria H Harris,
  • Laura Gladson,
  • Andrea R Titus,
  • Susana B Adamo,
  • Kelvin C Fong,
  • Emily M Gargulinski,
  • Amber J Soja,
  • Susan Anenberg,
  • Yusuke Kuwayama
Tanya Kreutzer Sayyed
School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Author Profile
Ufuoma Ovienmhada
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts institute of Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Mitra Kashani
Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Karn Vohra
Department of Geography, University College London
Gaige Hunter Kerr
Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Catherine O'donnell
Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Maria H Harris
Environmental Defense Fund
Laura Gladson
Marron Institute of Urban Management, New York University, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Andrea R Titus
New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Susana B Adamo
Center for International Earth Science Information Network, The Climate School, Columbia University
Kelvin C Fong
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University
Emily M Gargulinski
National Institute of Aerospace
Amber J Soja
NASA Langley Research Center
Susan Anenberg
Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Yusuke Kuwayama
School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Abstract

In support of the environmental justice (EJ) movement, researchers, activists, and policymakers often use environmental data to document evidence of the unequal distribution of environmental burdens and benefits along lines of race, class, and other socioeconomic characteristics. Numerous limitations, such as spatial or temporal discontinuities, exist with commonly used data measurement techniques, which include ground monitoring and federal screening tools. Satellite data is well poised to address these gaps in EJ measurement and monitoring; however, little is known about how satellite data has advanced findings in EJ or can help to promote EJ through interventions. Thus, this scoping review aims to 1) explore trends in study design, topics, geographic scope, and satellite datasets used to research EJ, 2) synthesize findings from studies that use satellite data to characterize disparities and inequities across socio-demographic groups for various environmental categories, and 3) capture how satellite data are relevant to policy and real-world impact. Following PRISMA extension guidelines for scoping reviews, we retrieved 81 articles that applied satellite data for EJ research in the United States from 2000 to 2022. The majority of the studies leveraged the technical advantages of satellite data to identify socio-demographic disparities in exposure to environmental risk factors, such as air pollution, and access to environmental benefits, such as green space, at wider coverage and with greater precision than previously possible. These disparities in exposure and access are associated with health outcomes such as increased cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, mental illness, and mortality. Research using satellite data to illuminate EJ concerns can contribute to efforts to mitigate environmental inequalities and reduce health disparities. Satellite data for EJ research can therefore support targeted interventions or influence planning and policy changes, but significant work remains to facilitate the application of satellite data for policy and community impact.
29 Nov 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
11 Dec 2023Published in ESS Open Archive