Akinaru Iino

Development of a method to predict the heat island potential using remote sensing and GIS data

Abstract Most studies directed to urban climate simulation have been carried out under the assumption that an urban canopy layer is a sublayer comprised of various roughnesses, and as a consequence, difficulties have arisen in obtaining a suitable heat balance for such a layer. This paper, therefore, focuses on investigating the surface temperature distributions of all urban surfaces via a new index based on sensible heat flux, named the heat island potential (HIP), which can be employed in urban development planning to evaluate the urban thermal environment. Simulation results following the use of HIP are verified by side-looking airborne multi-spectral scanner (MSS) and geographic information system (GIS) data; thereby enabling elucidation of these thermal effects on the atmosphere. In addition, a heat balance algorithm is developed which simulates urban surfaces such that construction of urban thermal images is possible.

Application of high resolution side-looking MSS data to heat island potential in urban area

The authors employed side-looking airborne MSS data with high resolution to investigate the actual conditions of surface temperature distributions in an urban area with the complex ground surface form. In addition, airborne MSS and GIS data were used to calculate the HIP of various types of residential regions, and results verified its effectiveness for monitoring urban land use change and thermal environment.