Remote sensing applied to classification of local climate zones

Abstract

Monitoring of representative intra-urban thermal features is a difficult task due to the complexity of urban terrain (OKE, 2004). The characteristics of urbanized areas can be quantified using different methods, including the classification system of Local Climate Zones (LCZs), which describes the local-scale physical conditions of a given area. It is applied with universal and relatively easy standardization based on geometric, thermal, and radiative surface properties. This study aims to characterize the urban and rural areas of the municipality of Campo Grande (Midwest region, Brazil) using an adaptation of the LCZ method. Results from the modeling detected the following six built types: 2 - compact midrise, 3 - compact low-rise, 4 - open high-rise, 6 - open low-rise, 8 - large low-rise, 9 - sparsely built. This method can be used in any urban area if the required input data is available.