Exploring the Urban Heat Island and Its Mechanisms Based on Satellite and AI

A special issue of Climate (ISSN 2225-1154).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 11

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: remote sensing; inland water; coastal water; atmospheric aerosols; atmospheric correction; satellite imagery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: remote sensing; aerosol optical depth; air pollution estimation; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: remote sensing; biomass; urban heat island; air pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects, i.e., where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their rural surroundings, pose serious challenges to public health, energy consumption, and urban sustainability. With rapid urbanization and climate change intensifying these effects, understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of UHI has become a critical research priority. Remote sensing technologies, particularly satellite-based observations, offer powerful tools for monitoring land surface temperatures, vegetation cover, and urban morphology. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques are revolutionizing the analysis of complex geospatial data, enabling the more accurate modeling and prediction of UHI phenomena.

This Special Issue aims to collate cutting-edge research that leverages satellite remote sensing and AI to explore the mechanisms, impacts, and mitigation strategies of Urban Heat Islands. It aligns closely with the scope of Remote Sensing, emphasizing the integration of advanced Earth observation technologies with intelligent data analytics to address pressing environmental and urban challenges.

We welcome contributions in areas including, but not limited to, the following: 

  • Satellite-based detection and mapping of UHI;
  • AI-driven modeling and prediction of UHI dynamics;
  • Multi-source data fusion for urban thermal environment analysis;
  • Temporal and spatial variability of UHI across different climates and urban forms;
  • UHI mitigation strategies and their evaluation using remote sensing;
  • Urban planning and policy implications derived from UHI studies.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Remote Sensing.

Dr. Majid Nazeer
Dr. Xin-yu Yu
Prof. Dr. Charles Man Sing Wong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • urban heat island (UHI)
  • satellite remote sensing
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • land surface temperature
  • urban climate
  • thermal infrared imaging
  • data fusion

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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