DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD TO PREDICT THE HEAT-ISLAND POTENTIAL USING REMOTE-SENSING AND GIS DATA

Most studies directed to urban climate simulation have been carried ou t under the assumption that an urban canopy layer is a sublayer compri sed of various roughnesses, and as a consequence, difficulties have ar isen in obtaining a suitable heat balance for such a layer. This paper , therefore, focuses on investigating the surface temperature distribu tions of all urban surfaces via a new index based on sensible heat flu x, named the heat island potential (HIP), which can be employed in urb an development planning to evaluate the urban thermal environment. Sim ulation results following the use of HIP are verified by side-looking airborne multi-spectral scanner (MSS) and geographic information syste m (GIS) data; thereby enabling elucidation of these thermal effects on the atmosphere. In addition, a heat balance algorithm is developed wh ich simulates urban surfaces such that construction of urban thermal i mages is possible.