Cities require urban heat island knowledge in order to transform them into urban health islands.

Baraa Khalil Mohamad

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Abstract: In this study, we examine the urban heat island phenomenon in Suchdol-Prague to investigate the relationship between land surface temperature and land use/land cover. Mapping of land surface temperature was performed using satellite image data, including thermal infrared (TIR) data from Landsat 8 (Band 10), acquired on June 27, 2018, and Landsat 5 (Thematic Mapper (TM) Band 6) acquired on June 30, 2002. The ArcMap GIS software was utilized to extract land surface temperature information from the satellite data. The findings of this study reveal a remarkable disparity in temperature among various land cover types, including arable land, built-up areas, and forests. Our analysis underscores the strong connection between land use/land cover and land surface temperature, providing insights into the complex dynamics of urban climates. Arable land and green space, had the lowest LST, with a difference of around 12 °C, compared to built-up areas. The second part of this thesis includes using an infrared camera to measure surface temperature to investigate the thermal behavior of various materials such as concrete, asphalt, stone, paving stone, and others, which have a significant impact on the urban heat island. Our study shows that texture, roughness, and color of surfaces play a crucial role in determining their surface temperatures. For instance, we found that light-colored paving tiles, such as gray, had lower surface temperatures compared to dark gray tiles with a difference of approximately 7°C. On the other hand, the dark and rough asphalt had a surface temperature of 60°C, while white-painted asphalt showed a difference of at least 15°C. The results highlight the effectiveness of using light-colored materials in urban settings for reducing surface temperatures and the surrounding air temperature. Therefore, understanding the thermal behavior of various objects in our cities can also assist urban designers in achieving thermal comfort in urban areas.

Keywords

Urban heat island, urbanization, Thermal infrared, remote sensing, Land Use/Cover

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 29. 3. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 16. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: Mgr. Michal Lodin, MSc
• Reader: Vojtěch Barták, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Master programme / field:
Landscape Engineering / Landscape Planning