Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Urban heat islands (UHIs) have become a significant environmental concern in rapidly growing cities around the world due to their detrimental impacts on human health, energy consumption, and overall urban climate. Remote sensing techniques offer a valuable tool for studying UHIs and understanding their spatial distribution and temporal dynamics. This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of UHIs in a rapidly growing city using remote sensing methods to investigate the factors contributing to their formation and potential mitigation strategies. The study begins with an introduction to urban heat islands and their importance in urban climate research, followed by a detailed background of the study area and the problem statement highlighting the need to address UHIs in the context of rapid urbanization. The objectives of the study are outlined to investigate the spatial extent, intensity, and drivers of UHIs, along with assessing the effectiveness of remote sensing in monitoring and analyzing UHIs. The limitations and scope of the study are identified to provide a clear understanding of the research boundaries and potential implications. A thorough literature review is conducted in Chapter Two, covering ten key aspects related to UHIs, remote sensing techniques, urbanization trends, climate change impacts, and mitigation strategies. This review sets the theoretical framework for the study and contextualizes the research within existing knowledge and gaps in the field. Chapter Three details the research methodology, including data collection, processing, and analysis techniques utilized to study UHIs in the selected city. Eight components are discussed, such as satellite imagery acquisition, land surface temperature extraction, land use classification, and statistical modeling to quantify UHI effects and relationships with urban features. Chapter Four presents a comprehensive discussion of the findings obtained from the analysis of UHIs in the rapidly growing city. The results highlight the spatial distribution and intensity of UHIs, the influence of urban morphology and land cover on UHI formation, and the potential implications for urban planning and climate resilience. The findings are critically examined in relation to existing literature and implications for future research and policy interventions. In conclusion, Chapter Five summarizes the key findings of the study and presents implications for urban planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable development in rapidly growing cities facing UHI challenges. Recommendations for future research directions and practical strategies to mitigate UHIs are provided to enhance urban resilience and improve the quality of life for city residents. Overall, this thesis contributes to the understanding of UHIs in rapidly growing cities and highlights the importance of remote sensing techniques in monitoring and addressing urban climate challenges.

Thesis Overview

The project titled "Analysis of urban heat islands in a rapidly growing city using remote sensing techniques" focuses on investigating the phenomenon of urban heat islands within a rapidly expanding urban environment. Urban heat islands are areas within cities that experience significantly higher temperatures compared to their surrounding rural areas, primarily due to human activities and the built environment. This research aims to utilize remote sensing techniques to analyze and understand the spatial distribution and characteristics of urban heat islands in a city undergoing rapid growth. The urban heat island effect is a critical issue with implications for public health, energy consumption, and overall urban sustainability. As cities expand and populations increase, the intensity and extent of urban heat islands are expected to rise, exacerbating heat-related health risks and increasing energy demands for cooling. By employing remote sensing technologies, this study seeks to provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to urban heat islands and their spatial patterns within the context of a rapidly growing city. The research overview will involve the collection and analysis of satellite imagery, thermal data, and other relevant remote sensing data to map and quantify urban heat islands. By examining land cover types, land use patterns, building densities, and other urban characteristics, the study aims to identify the key drivers of heat island formation and expansion. Additionally, the project will investigate the relationship between urban heat islands and socio-economic factors, such as population density and income distribution, to understand the social dimensions of heat island vulnerability. Through a comprehensive research methodology that integrates remote sensing techniques with geographic information system (GIS) analysis, statistical modeling, and field validation, this study seeks to provide a detailed assessment of urban heat islands in the study area. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to urban planning and policy-making efforts aimed at mitigating the impacts of heat islands and enhancing the resilience of rapidly growing cities to heat-related challenges. Overall, this project aims to advance knowledge in the field of urban climatology, remote sensing applications, and urban sustainability by investigating the dynamics of urban heat islands in the context of rapid urbanization. By combining scientific analysis with practical implications, the research seeks to provide valuable insights for informing evidence-based strategies to address urban heat island issues and promote sustainable urban development in a rapidly growing city.