Mapping Heat Risks in Delhi: A Geospatial Approach to Enhancing Urban Resilience

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation and changing climate patterns have intensified heat stress in urban areas. Factors such as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, population growth, land use changes, and inadequate green and blue infrastructure contribute to elevated temperatures. The objective of this study is to map heat risks in Delhi using geospatial indicators, showcasing the potential of open-source satellite imagery to enhance Heat Action Plans (HAPs).   Utilising Google Earth Engine (GEE) as a robust tool, our methodology integrates satellite imagery and various geospatial data to analyse the drivers and indicators of heat risk based on the IPCC AR5 framework considering Hazard, Exposure and Vulnerability. Comprehensive heat risk maps are generated for Delhi, a city of over 20 million residents experiencing extreme heat and escalating heatwaves. These maps identify areas with increased exposure and vulnerability, providing valuable insights for developing precise mitigation strategies.   The outcomes of this research contribute to enhancing Delhi's Heat Action Plan and offer a scalable methodology for assessing heat risks in other cities. The automated GEE script and framework can be readily applied, facilitating the integration of these assessments into HAPs. Moreover, the study emphasises future plans to collaborate with government authorities and disaster management agencies to incorporate on-ground socio-economic data, further refining the heat risk assessment process.   Keywords: Heat Risk, Urban Heat Island, Land Surface Temperature, Google Earth Engine