Spatial Data Analysis Enhances Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies
Urban Heat Islands (UHIs)—urban areas that experience significantly higher temperatures than their rural surroundings—pose a serious environmental and public health challenge, especially in the context of global climate change. In response, cities across the world are increasingly turning to spatial data analysis to understand and mitigate the UHI effect more effectively. Spatial data analysis uses geospatial technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems), remote sensing, and satellite imagery to analyze the spatial distribution of heat intensity, land use patterns, vegetation cover, and population density. This data-driven approach enables researchers, urban planners, and policymakers to make informed decisions and design targeted interventions that reduce surface and ambient temperatures in heat-vulnerable areas. Recent studies have demonstrated that spatial analysis can accurately identify UHI hotspots at the neighborhood level. For instance, thermal satell...