Urban Heat Island Mapping — Vijayawada
Remote sensing analysis of land surface temperature patterns across Vijayawada, identifying urban heat islands and their relationship with impervious surface cover.
Context
Vijayawada records some of the highest temperatures in India during summer months. Rapid urbanization has replaced green cover with concrete and asphalt, intensifying heat stress in dense urban core areas.
Problem Statement
Where are the urban heat island hotspots in Vijayawada, and what land-use and built environment factors drive elevated land surface temperatures?
Methodology
Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS imagery for summer months (2019–2024). Land Surface Temperature (LST) retrieval using mono-window algorithm. NDVI and NDBI calculation for vegetation and built-up indices. Correlation with land-use data from VMRDA master plan.
Analysis
Multi-temporal LST analysis over five years. Hotspot analysis using Getis-Ord Gi* statistic in QGIS. Regression between LST, NDVI, and building density by ward.
Insights
Urban core wards show LST up to 8°C higher than peri-urban zones. Industrial areas near Kondapalli show the highest heat stress. Green spaces and water bodies along Krishna River provide measurable cooling effects.
Outcome
Identified 23 priority intervention zones for urban greening and cool surface materials. Proposed a green infrastructure masterplan with ward-level targets for tree canopy coverage.