Temporal Monitoring and Detection of Thermal Hotspots at the Deonar Landfill Using Landsat‐8 Images

ABSTRACT Landfills exhibit distinct thermal signatures that can be monitored using satellite‐based land surface temperature (LST) analysis for hotspot detection and management. This study presents a temporal monitoring approach for detecting and tracking thermal hotspots at the Deonar landfill in Mumbai, India, using Landsat‐8 thermal infrared imagery. We processed 64 Landsat‐8 images spanning 2013–2023 through data pre‐processing, georeferencing, and LST retrieval to systematically detect hotspots within the landfill boundary. Our analysis identified 64 thermal hotspots representing the highest temperature locations within the landfill boundary, which were predominantly concentrated in the northeastern section. The geographic coordinates of each hotspot were precisely determined, enabling spatial tracking of hotspots over time. Temporal analysis revealed persistent thermal activity in the hotspot region throughout the study period, with seasonal variations in hotspot intensity. Using the detected hotspots, we generated a probability‐based hotspot region map that delineates areas with consistent temperature elevations. This high‐probability hotspot region covers approximately 45% of the total landfill area and can guide targeted interventions for waste management and fire prevention. The georeferenced hotspot coordinates provide actionable spatial information for ground‐based monitoring and remediation efforts. The study demonstrates that Landsat‐8 thermal remote sensing provides a reliable, non‐invasive method for continuous landfill monitoring and can support evidence‐based decision making in landfill management and remediation strategies.