Unlocking the Power of Space: Redefining Urban Heat Island Management with Temperature Monitoring

Across the vast tapestry of urban landscapes worldwide, the 'urban heat island effect' quietly shapes our living environments. As populations surge and cities expand into sprawling mega-cities, the impact of this phenomenon grows more pronounced: By 2050, around 20 percent of the world's largest cities may face temperature increases exceeding 4°C, with 25 percent experiencing and increase over 7°C by 2100. Consequently, cities could suffer significant economic losses, projected at 1.4-1.7 percent of GDP by 2050 and 2.3-5.6 percent by 2100. The most affected cities might endure a staggering 10.9 percent GDP loss due to heat by the century's end (World Economic Forum, 2022).

To understand the interaction between human activities, urban design and population growth, we explore how these factors contribute to the exacerbation of the urban heat island effect. Through analysis of spatial arrangements between buildings and architectural features amplifying heat retention, we gain insights into the environmental challenges we face.

In this piece, we focus on how EU regulations and policies are setting the scene for more data needs and how companies such as Latitudo 40 and constellr are taking on a pivotal role unraveling the complexities of urban heat islands by using satellite technologies.

EU Strategies for Urban Heat Islands and Climate Adaptation

According to Joachim Maes, Policy Analyst for European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy, the European Union is actively addressing climate change through various policy initiatives. As part of this effort, a communication on climate risks is set for adoption in early March 2024, alongside the EU climate risk assessment. Supporting these actions is the EU adaptation strategy and a dedicated mission on climate adaptation.

To inform policy decisions regarding urban heat islands, there's a critical need for high-resolution surface temperature data across the EU.

Local and regional administrations require tools to monitor and forecast urban temperatures effectively. Furthermore, regularly updated data on surface temperature is essential for ecosystem accounting purposes, aligning with proposed regulations to assess the cooling impact of urban green spaces.

In terms of intervention, the EU can leverage cohesion policy, the EU urban initiative, and other funding mechanisms to bolster the preparedness and resilience of urban areas against climate-related challenges. These strategies aim to enhance the overall climate resilience of EU cities and regions.

Urban Heat Island Challenges

Various innovative approaches have been tested to combat urban heat island effects, including creative urban greening initiatives like the green rooftop walk of Rotterdam and green corridors of Medellin. Amongst others, combinations of trees and awnings, such as the shade policy in Seville, have also been effective. However, several challenges persist. These include identifying the best areas for implementing such approaches, monitoring and quantifying their positive impacts, ensuring timely intervention in case of failure, and integrating data to assess overall improvements at the city level.

Despite these challenges, ongoing innovation and correct use of data are key to addressing urban heat island issues effectively.

Land Surface Temperature (LST) for instance provides a unique perspective within urban environments. LST refers to the skin temperature of the land, encompassing all surface components within the sensor's field of view, including soil, vegetation, and water.

With this we can gather insights into the composition of urban areas and how this has been utilized to identify areas of extreme urban heat risk, locate safe and shady areas for refuge, compare cities and the impact of urban planning, and analyze thermal inequity across neighborhoods.

So far, the availability of high-frequency, high-resolution, and accurate Land Surface Temperature (LST) data has been limited, impeding a thorough comprehension of the thermal dynamics of Urban Heat Islands. However, constellr is revolutionizing this landscape by developing a satellite constellation that will deliver daily LST data with exceptional resolution and temperature precision.

If you want to learn more about what LST is, you can always read our article here in collaboration with the University of Leicester.

... but how can that data be used?

1.???? Data acquisition: thermal data obtained using thermal sensors on satellite platforms

2.???? Ground segment downlink: data is received at the ground stations and transmitted to the next processing segment

3.???? LST retrieval algorithm: various corrections such as atmospheric, geometric, and radiometric corrections take place, and dedicated algorithms are used to extract LST from the thermal data. This includes input from auxiliary datasets to include information on landcover, topography, and the atmospheric conditions at data acquisition time.

4.???? LST and supporting data are produced: geospatial layers of LST as well as supporting data are prepared including uncertainty layers, cloud and shadow masks, metadata, etc.. layers that support the end-user to benefit from the LST data.

Collaborating with EO Analytics firms to gain the full potential of satellite data

Collaborating with partners like Latitudo 40 , specializing in intuitive visualization and analytics tailored to user expertise, further enhances data utilization. Together, the aim is to maximize data potential.

The development of an Environmental Operating System, leveraging AI and satellite imagery, marks a significant step towards smarter, sustainable cities and landscapes. Latitudo's suite of tools, including Heatwave Risk maps and Carbon Storage assessments, empowers comprehensive climate change action with precise KPIs and geospatial analysis. Accessible through EarthDataPlace, their marketplace, these insights are democratized for widespread access, fostering a resilient future.

The integration of maps and indexes such as Heatwave Potential Risk, Microclimatic Performances, and Park Cool Islands products is facilitated through the utilization of the "Map Overlay Concept”. This methodology entails overlaying layers that depict factors exacerbating or alleviating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. These layers are qualitatively classified to offer a holistic perspective on UHI dynamics, aiding in urban planning decisions. The outcome is an evaluation of the city's most susceptible areas, thereby enabling proactive measures to address heat-related challenges.

The shift from raw data to actionable insights plays a vital role in converting urban challenges into sustainable solutions. This transition enables informed decision-making, optimized resource allocation, and improved public safety. By harnessing these insights, cities can engage in adaptive urban planning, foster community involvement, and implement dynamic responses to environmental issues. Ultimately, this approach contributes to the creation of healthier and more resilient urban environments.

What will be needed in the future?

constellr will introduce their own satellite constellation that we will be launching later in 2024, This constellation will revolutionize earth observation by offering enhanced spatial resolution and temperature accuracy. With a thermal infrared resolution of 30 meters, it represents a significant advancement over current options. Utilizing cryo-cooled sensors, these satellites will provide temperature measurements with an accuracy of within 2 Kelvin degrees and sensitivity within a scene of 100 millikelvin. Additionally, they will feature visible and near-infrared sensors with a practical spatial resolution of 10 meters, aligning closely with the parameters of Sentinel 2.

What will this data look like and what benefits will it bring?

This is an image of Toulouse in France that has been sharpened to 10 meters, giving an indication of the sharpening possibilities with our data.

To meet the demanding spatial resolution needs of Urban Heat Island monitoring, our data offers both thermal and visible data from a single satellite, eliminating the current necessity of merging and enhancing data from various constellations.

The enhanced native Thermal Infrared (TIR) resolution we provide will heighten the accuracy of sharpened data, instilling greater confidence in the derived indices for end users. Moreover, our constellation will enable frequent revisits to urban areas, facilitating continuous monitoring of UHI dynamics over time. This temporal dimension is vital for comprehending the daily, seasonal, and long-term fluctuations in UHI intensity and coverage.

In the future, collaboration between data delivery and data analytics companies on urban infrastructure projects will be essential to understand the development of mega cities and to enable precise data daily.

If you want to learn more about how we emphasize collaboration, simply follow the link to collaborative article or reach out to Adam Borowicz

?