Multilevel evaluation model of light pollution (MELP) to evaluate specific areas used in risk exposure assessment: a study case in Chengdu City (Southwest China)

Abstract

With the rapid development of the economy, the impact of light pollution on human life has become increasingly serious. For a long time, people have only paid attention to the positive effects of light, while ignoring the harmful consequences of light pollution. In order to evaluate the degree of light pollution in the region, this research paper has presented the multilevel evaluation model of light pollution (MELP) model. First, the MELP model selected 14 generally applicable indicators, and these indicators are easy to obtain. Second, the MELP model considered the correlation between indicators and utilizes analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method (AHP-EWM) to determine the weight of indicators. Third, the normal cumulative distribution-Monte Carlo method was used to simulate regional light pollution data. Finally, based on the TOPSIS scoring results, the severity of light pollution was categorized into three levels: slight pollution (I–III), moderate pollution (IV–VI), and severe pollution (VII–IX). A study case is Chengdu City, Southwest China. According to the results of the MELP model, the light pollution level of Chengdu is VIII, which belongs to severe pollution. This study aimed to investigate and reduce the impact of light pollution on humans and the environment, and it can also provide a reference for similar studies around the world.

Keywords:

• Light pollution
• the MELP model
• AHP-EWM
• normal distribution-Monte Carlo
• TOPSIS
• Chengdu City

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

• SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Subject classification codes:

• original research articles

Author contributions

Lijiang Deng conducted the data collection and manuscript writing. Zhicheng Yang conducted the method selection, data generation, and content review of the manuscript. Jiawei Shi conducted the data collection, data visualization, and content review of the manuscript. Xianghua Zheng provided funding for the research. Hongjiang Pu improved the grammatical structure of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

All authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

This manuscript does not contain any data that can be shared.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by National Key Research and Development of China (2017YFC1404900); Measurement of Terrestrial Heat Flow and Selection of Target Area of China (DD20190128) and Teaching Reform Project of Sichuan Provincial Department of Education (JG2021-1402).