Counting Lights to Measure Empty Skyscrapers

Logosofia no Dia a Dia · Jun 1, 2026 · 29m

When developer press releases say "90% sold" but only a fraction of windows are lit at night, how do you know what's really happening? This episode unpacks the surprisingly formal methodology of light-based occupancy estimation — from the "three-by-three rule" of observation nights and time windows, to correction factors for residents who are home with the lights off. We trace real case studies from Vancouver's Living Shangri-La tower to Miami's Brickell district, where citizen audits and drone surveys revealed occupancy rates far below official claims. It turns out that counting lights from…