Measuring UHI using Landsat 8 OLI and TIRS data with NDVI and NDBI in Municipality of Prishtina

Abstract

The study is aimed at investigating the phenomenon of the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) over the municipality of Prishtina. The SUHI was investigated based on the relationship between Land Surface Temperature (LST) estimated from Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) band with Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) bands using Geographic Information System (GIS). To understand this relationship, a regression analysis was performed. Regression analysis in both cases showed high relationships between LST, NDVI and NDBI. LST relationships with NDVI showed a strong negative correlation having an R2 value of 0.7638 highlighting the extraordinary role of vegetation towards reducing the SUHI effect while LST relationships with NDBI showed a strong positive correlation having an R2 value of 0.8038 highlighting the role that built-up areas have in strengthening the SUHI effect. Built-up areas and bare surfaces are responsible for generating the SUHI effect while vegetation and water bodies minimize this effect by creating freshness. The maps in which the SUHI phenomenon are identified, are extremely important and should be paid great attention by the city leaders themselves. This should be done in order for urban planning policies to go to those areas where such a harmful phenomenon occurs in order for the lives of citizens to be as healthy as possible.