The impact of urban expansion on land surface temperatures in Sulaymaniyah City

Contents

Chapter One: Introduction

1.1: Introduction

1.2: Aim and Objective of the study

1.3: Research Questions

1.4: Problem Definition

1.5 Structure of the thesis

Chapter Two: Literature Review

2.1:The Role of Remote Sensing in Land surface Tempreture Retrieval and Application

2.2: Algorithms Developed for Retrieving LST

2.3: Related Literature on Landsat- based Land Surface Temperature Retrieval

Chapter Three: Data and Methodology

3.1: Study area

3.2: Data Collection

3.3: Research method

3.5: Classification scheme

3.6: Image Classification Techniques

3.7: Accuracy Assessment

3.8: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Chapter four: Results and Discussion

4.1: Result of Classification Images

4.3: Land Surface Temperature Retrieval

4.4: Spatial Distribution of LST in Sulaymaniyah city

4.5: Spatial Distribution of LST in 1984

4.6: LST Spatial Distribution in 2010

5.1: Conclusion

Objectives and Research Themes

This research aims to investigate the impact of urban expansion on land surface temperature (LST) in Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq, by utilizing Landsat-5 TM imagery and GIS techniques to analyze spatial and temporal patterns over three decades.

• Analysis of land use/land cover changes from 1984 to 2010.
• Retrieval and spatial distribution mapping of Land Surface Temperature (LST).
• Evaluation of the relationship between vegetation cover (NDVI) and surface temperature.
• Assessment of urban growth impacts on the local thermal environment and urban heat/cool island phenomena.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Chapter One: Introduction: Provides an overview of global urbanization and its impact on the thermal environment, defining the research objectives, questions, and the structural scope of the study.

Chapter Two: Literature Review: Examines the role of remote sensing and GIS in LST retrieval, existing algorithms, and related studies on urban heat and cool island phenomena.

Chapter Three: Data and Methodology: Details the study area, data collection methods using Landsat imagery, image preprocessing, classification schemes, and the technical procedures for LST and NDVI analysis.

Chapter four: Results and Discussion: Presents the findings regarding land cover changes, classification accuracy, and the spatial distribution of LST, while analyzing the correlation between vegetation and surface temperature.

5.1: Conclusion: Synthesizes the research findings, confirming the impact of urban expansion on LST and providing recommendations for future urban planning and environmental management.

Keywords

Remote Sensing, GIS, Landsat-5 TM, Land Surface Temperature (LST), Urban Expansion, Urban Heat Island, NDVI, Land Use/Land Cover, Sulaymaniyah, Vegetation, Thermal Environment, Surface Emissivity, Urban Planning, Iraq, Environmental Monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this study?

The study examines the relationship between rapid urban expansion and changes in Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq.

What are the central themes of the research?

The research explores land cover classification, thermal signature identification, the correlation between NDVI and LST, and the environmental implications of urban growth.

What is the main objective of this work?

The primary aim is to identify and map the spatial patterns of land use change and LST variation over three specific time periods (1984, 2000, and 2010).

What methodology is employed to retrieve LST?

The study utilizes Landsat-5 TM thermal band (Band 6) data processed through ENVI and ArcGIS, applying supervised classification and radiometric brightness temperature calculations.

What does the main body of the research cover?

The main body focuses on literature analysis, data collection, image processing workflows, and a detailed discussion of the results, including spatial distribution maps and statistical correlations.

Which keywords best characterize this research?

Key terms include Remote Sensing, GIS, Landsat, Land Surface Temperature, Urbanization, and NDVI.

How does urban growth affect LST in the context of this study?

The research suggests that in Sulaymaniyah, urban expansion can actually lead to a cooling effect in some areas when compared to barren lands, challenging the standard urban heat island model.

What is the significance of the NDVI analysis in this thesis?

NDVI is used as a critical indicator to assess the relationship between vegetation cover and LST, revealing a strong negative correlation where higher vegetation density corresponds to lower temperatures.

What specific challenges did the author face?

The author faced data limitations, such as differences in image capture seasons and a lack of previous localized literature on LST in Sulaymaniyah for direct comparison.

What are the key recommendations for city planners?

Recommendations include increasing green spaces, planting trees, utilizing light-colored building materials, and incorporating urban planning strategies that prioritize surface cooling in new developments.