The Impacts of Urbanization-induced Land Use and Land Cover Change on Land Surface Temperature and Thermal Comfort. The Case of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

1.2. Statement of the Problem

1.3. Objectives

1.3.1. General Objective

1.3.2. Specific Objectives

1.4. Research Questions

1.5. Significance of the Study

1.6. Delimitation Scope

1.7. Limitations of the study

1.8. Operational Definitions

1.9. Organization of the study

CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Theoretical Framework

2.1.1. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

2.1.2. Land Surface Temperature

2.1.3. Urban Thermal Comfort

2.1.4. Normalized Difference Built-Up Index

2.1.5. Land Use Land Cover classification theory

2.2. Empirical Framework

2.2.1. Global perspectives

2.2.2. Local perspectives

2.2.3. Research and knowledge gaps

2.3. Conceptual Framework

CHAPTER III: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Description of the Study Area

3.1.1. Geographic Location

3.1.2. Topography

3.1.3. Population

3.1.4. Economy

3.1.5. Climate

3.2. Research design

3.3. Research Approach

3.4. Sampling Technique

3.5. Types and Sources of Data

3.5.1. Primary Data Sources

3.5.2. Secondary Data Sources

3.6. Methods of data collection

3.7. Materials and software’s

3.8. Methods of Data Analysis

3.8.1. Land Use Land Cover Classification

3.8.2. LULC Classification Accuracy Assessment

3.8.3. Land-use Land-cover change detection

3.8.4. Vegetation Abundance Analysis through NDVI

3.8.5. Land Surface Temperature Analysis

3.8.6. Thermal Comfort Assessment through UTFVI

3.9. Statistical Analysis

3. 10. Methodological Workflow

CHAPTER IV: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Analysis of LULC Classification

4.2.1. Spatio-Temporal Analysis of LULC

4.2.2. LULC Area Statistical Analysis

4.2.3. LULC Classification Accuracy Assessment

4.3. Vegetation Abundance Analysis through NDVI

4.4. Distribution of LST and its responses to LULC types

4.5. Relationship of LST with Vegetation and Built-up Area

4.5.1. Evaluation of Land Surface Temperature by MODIS 11A2

4.6. Thermal Comfort Assessment through UTFVI

4.7. Major Findings of The Study

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1. Conclusion

5.2. Recommendation

5.3. Suggestions for Future Studies

Research Objectives and Themes

The study aims to assess the implications of urbanization-induced land use and land cover (LULC) changes on land surface temperature (LST) and urban thermal comfort in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, between 2000 and 2022 to provide actionable data for urban planning and climate resilience.

• Analysis of spatiotemporal LULC dynamics using remote sensing and GIS.
• Evaluation of LST variations in relation to different land use types.
• Assessment of the correlation between LST, NDVI, and NDBI indices.
• Determination of urban thermal comfort levels using the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI).
• Development of insights for sustainable urban planning and mitigation of urban heat islands.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION: Outlines the background of land-use change impacts on local climate, specifically targeting the urban growth challenges and research objectives in Dire Dawa.

CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW: Reviews theoretical and empirical research regarding LULC classification metrics, remote sensing of land surface temperatures, and urban thermal indices.

CHAPTER III: MATERIALS AND METHODS: Describes the geographical context of the study area, data sources (Landsat, MODIS, Google Earth), and the quantitative analytical methodologies including supervised classification and thermal indices.

CHAPTER IV: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: Presents the statistical findings on LULC transformation, NDVI trends, LST variations, and thermal comfort status, supported by spatial maps and regression analysis.

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Concludes the study by summarizing the environmental findings and providing strategic recommendations for stakeholders to promote sustainable urban development.

Keywords

Urbanization, Land Use Land Cover Change, Land Surface Temperature, Thermal Comfort, Urban Heat Island, Dire Dawa, Remote Sensing, NDVI, NDBI, UTFVI, Ecological Evaluation Index, Climate Change, Urban Planning, Sustainability, Geospatial Analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this research?

The research focuses on analyzing how urbanization and land-use land-cover (LULC) changes have influenced land surface temperatures (LST) and urban thermal comfort in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, over a 22-year period.

What are the central thematic fields?

The key themes include remote sensing, urban ecology, geomatics engineering, thermal comfort assessment, and sustainable urban environmental management.

What is the primary objective of the study?

To assess the environmental impacts of urbanization-induced land cover changes on the local microclimate and thermal comfort levels to inform urban planning and climate adaptation policies.

Which scientific methods are utilized?

The study employs a quantitative approach using satellite imagery (Landsat and MODIS), supervised classification algorithms, and specific indices like NDVI, NDBI, and UTFVI for statistical and spatial modeling.

What does the main content cover?

The main content evaluates LULC trends, the statistical correlation between increased built-up areas and rising surface temperatures, and the resulting thermal variances within the city.

Which keywords characterize this work?

Key terms include Urbanization, LULC, Land Surface Temperature, Thermal Comfort, NDVI, NDBI, UTFVI, and sustainable development.

How is the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) used in this study?

It is used as a tool to quantify the thermal comfort level of the urban environment, segmenting the city into six ecological categories ranging from 'Excellent' to 'Worst'.

What conclusion does the author draw regarding built-up land expansion?

The author concludes that rapid urban expansion into flat, accessible areas at the expense of vegetation and shrub land significantly contributes to higher land surface temperatures and worsened ecological conditions.