Akinobu Murakami

Experimental Production of Heat-Island Map with Satellite and Airborne Thermal Infrared Data

The purpose of this study is experimental production of heat-island map with satellite and airborne thermal infrared data. In Japan, at almost of all cities, including not only major cities (i.e. Tokyo, Osaka, population is over one million) but also provincial cities (i.e. Sendai, Nagano, Kofu and so on, population is 100 thousands to 500 thousands), there are heat island phenomenon. Heat island map was made with satellite and airborne thermal infrared data observed day and night. The value of thermal data at daytime was expressed as red color and the value of thermal data at night time was expressed as blue and green color. The map shows heat island phenomenon and structure of city. Buildings with large heat capacity materials are shown with white or blue green color, houses with wood materials (comparatively low heat capacity materials) are shown with red color.

Study on Urban Heat Island Phenomenon in a Local Small City of Japan using Airborne Themal Image

A new method to make an air temperature map from surface temperature of greenery is presented. The relationship between the treetops surface temperature and the ambient air temperature was examined and the method to make an air temperature map was developed. The method was applied using airborne MSS data for a city situated in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Recently, the heat island phenomenon has been observed in small cities in Japan. However, compared to large cities, small cities generally have more green and open spaces that can mitigate the heat island phenomenon. In the present study, in order to mitigate the heat island phenomenon in the Tonami urbanized area, the state of the heat island of Tonami district was examined by the proposed method using remotely sensed data acquired at different times. The result indicated that the heat island phenomenon occurred even in a small city, and it was observed that the air warmed up in the central area was conveyed leeward by the wind.

Biowaste Reuse Through Composting: The Response of Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, Philippines, to Solid-Waste Management

Biowaste is the large volume of solid waste generated daily by households, and it presents environmental and health hazards if not reused. Composting is one of the best options for such reuse. This study documents biowaste generation and collection from households and reuse through composting in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, Philippines. This barangay (the smallest administrative unit) has made pioneering efforts in composting, having developed it from a simple process to a mechanized process. The barangay’s composting has been integrated with its vegetable and flower urban garden, which serves as a demonstration and training center on how to provide livelihood opportunities and environmental benefits. However, to enhance the compost’s marketability, issues relating to quality, such as the high organic carbon, high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, need to be addressed. The barangay intends to boost compost production and sales, thereby increasing income, which can further improve the solid-waste management and increase staff salaries. Barangay Holy Spirit is one of the most developed barangays in terms of solid-waste management, and it can serve as a model for other barangays.

Features of Urbanization and Changes in the Thermal Environment in Jakarta, Indonesia

Asian megacities have experienced rapid population growth and continue to grow, causing serious environmental problems. The characteristics of urbanization in these areas differ from those experienced during the growth of cities in Western countries. It is perilous to consider an environmental planning system only from the experience of a highly developed country, since the underlying processes in developed countries often differ from those in developing countries. In order to deal with urbanization and environmental problems caused by urbanization in Asian megacities—adding to the interactions between humans and the natural environment—what environmental functions the landscape elements exhibit, how they connect with each other, and how the relationships between them change in the course of urbanization must be understood. This study describes landscape changes and processes that occurred in the urban fringe of Jakarta, and examines the environmental impacts of the changes in urban climate through numerical simulation analyses and field surveys. It then discusses how to guide urbanization along a more sustainable trajectory in terms of the future landscape structure and human behavior.