Urban Heat Island (UHI) Mapping for Heat Inequities in Communities to Address Extreme Heat

Urban Heat Island (UHI) mapping has emerged as a critical tool in addressing the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on communities. As cities continue to grow and urbanize, the intensification of UHI effects poses significant challenges to human health, urban planning, and environmental sustainability. This abstract presents an overview of the importance of UHI mapping and its role in identifying heat inequities within communities, with a focus on strategies to mitigate extreme heat and promote climate resilience. This temperature disparity has adverse effects on vulnerable communities, including the elderly, children, low-income populations, and people living in densely built environments with limited access to green spaces. Consequently, UHI mapping has become a crucial approach in understanding the spatial distribution of extreme heat and its associated health risks within cities. Utilizing various geospatial technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing for mapping allows the visualization and quantification of variations in urban temperature. The analysis of heat inequities patterns offers insights to researchers and policymakers to different neighbourhoods and demographic groups for implementing targeted interventions and developing climate-resilient urban planning strategies. The findings from UHI mapping studies can be instrumental in guiding the design and implementation of urban blue-green spaces. Increasing the presence of green infrastructure, including parks, gardens, and tree-lined streets, can mitigate UHI effects by providing shade, enhancing evapotranspiration, and reducing surface heat retention. Additionally, these initiatives can enhance community well-being, improve air quality, and promote biodiversity. Addressing heat inequities requires collaboration between government agencies, urban planners, community stakeholders, and environmental organizations. By identifying neighbourhoods most vulnerable to extreme heat through UHI mapping, resources can be directed towards the implementation of cooling interventions, such as cool roofs, reflective pavements, and community cooling centres. Moreover, public awareness campaigns and educational programs can help empower residents to take measures to protect themselves during heatwaves. UHI mapping plays a pivotal role in identifying heat inequities in communities and offers valuable insights to policymakers in their efforts to address extreme heat challenges. By employing geospatial technologies and adopting sustainable urban planning strategies, cities can create climate-resilient environments that prioritize the health and well-being of all residents, especially the most vulnerable, in the face of a warming world.