A study on the correlation between urban temperature and green spaces using GIS and remote sensing techniques : case study of Kuala Lumpur and Batu Pahat

Abstract

In recent years, rapid urbanization had transformed the spatial pattern of urban land uses worldwide that had resulted in the losses of urban green spaces apart from continuously altering the urban ecosystems. Along with it, the rising of temperatures in urban areas or what is commonly known as the “urban heat island effect” has become one of the most serious urban problems. This is especially so due to the impact it has on the urban microclimate, air quality, and public health. Presently, the analysis of the satellite images using geographical information system (GIS) is often used to determine the impact of the land coverage (including urban green spaces) that has resulted in the changes in the surface temperature. The aim of this research is to study the correlation between the urban temperature and the urban green spaces. This research used processing software, ENVI and ArcGIS for analyzing Landsat TM images to study the correlation. ENVI is used for processing the satellite images and to classify the land cover, and ArcGIS is used to analyse the data and create maps for the study. The results showed that there is a strong correlation between the urban temperature and the urban green spaces and the temperature. The study shows that green coverage and urban heat island are inversely proportional, i.e. the greater the green coverage area, the lower is the intensity of heat island. The correlation also varies according to the urban hierarchy. This is due to the level of development and built-up area of the various urban centers. The integration of remote sensing and GIS was found to be effective in monitoring and analyzing the changes in land cover and to evaluate its effect on surface temperature. Some suggestions to solve the issues and to improve the urban environment are also proposed and discussed in this paper.