Urban Heat Islands Study - November 2023

Building upon our previous exploration of satellite images, in this white paper, we delve into a concrete case study: urban heat islands. Recognizing the importance of this phenomenon and its implications for urban environments, we have created this white paper to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. In a past white paper, we delved into the causes and effects of heat islands, examining the factors that contribute to their formation, and the subsequent impacts on human health, energy consumption, and overall urban climate. Additionally, we explored the potential mitigation strategies that can be employed to alleviate the adverse effects of heat islands. We also explained how an efficient mobilization of artificial intelligence can allow us to better understand the situation across a territory and support the political decision making to address it. In this white paper, we shift our focus towards the role of satellite imagery in studying heat islands. We will showcase the specific satellite sensors and image processing operations utilized to detect and monitor heat islands, highlighting their capabilities in mapping surface temperatures and identifying vulnerable areas. Then, we will take a deeper dive into the computational aspects of studying heat islands. We will explore the intricacies of calculating surface temperatures, mapping heat distribution, and generating visual renderings that aid in visualizing and circling heat islands. Additionally, we will highlight how we can use these detections to compute vulnerability indices useful for urban planning and public health interventions