Spatial Assessment of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Kütahya using Landsat-8 Satellite Data

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect refers to the phenomenon where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and modifications, such as replacing natural land cover with impervious surfaces, reducing vegetation, and increasing heat-absorbing materials. Kütahya central district has a dense population and building layout, which contributes to the intense UHI. Geographic Information System (GIS) and its tools are widely used in assessing UHI in urban areas, providing insights for both researchers and local authorities. Landsat-8 images acquired on August 8, 2023 (Path: 179, Row: 33, Cloud Cover: 0%) were utilized to create the Urban Heat Island (UHI) map for the study area. Through spatial analysis using Landsat-8 data for Kütahya city center, six different classes were defined, with the UHI map created using land surface temperature values. The highest and lowest UHI values vary between 4.245°C and -3.457°C. It has been observed that the average UHI increases by 12% in areas lacking dense building structures, characterized by rock surfaces and limited green areas. Conversely, in areas with parks, forests, and sparse settlements, the UHI decreases by 10%. With this study, a comprehensive evaluation of UHI was conducted for Kütahya city center. While the results obtained are expected to be an important resource for researchers and local authorities, they are also anticipated to be beneficial in the fields of engineering geology, urban geology, and urban planning.