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Application of GIS-Based Mapping of Local Climate Zones in Urban Areas

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A special issue of ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (ISSN 2220-9964).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 18778

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Michal Lehnert

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Guest Editor

Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Interests: urban climate; local climate zones; human thermal environment; climate change; soil temperature

Dr. Jan Geletič

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Department of Complex Systems, 182 07 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Interests: urban climate; microclimate; local climate zones; remote sensing; computer modeling

Prof. Dr. Stevan Savić

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: urban climate; microclimate monitoring; urban biometeorology; urban environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of local climatic zones (LCZs) has become a widely recognized standard for the description of urban climate sites and has gained substantial attention from scholars worldwide over recent years. The original concept was extended to the mapping method of urban and suburban landscape, resulting in widespread application in urban climate research and beyond. With such a radical shift in the LCZ concept, new problems were identified (e.g., the quality and level of detail of GIS data, user accuracy, appropriate resolution, spatiotemporal variability, level of generalization, and standardization of the classification). Most popular among the authors dealing with LCZ delineation are methods based on widely available remote sensing data. The majority of such studies, however, have reported user accuracy inappropriate for recent urban climate science, demanding exact data for modeling as well as for application in real urban planning. We therefore have devoted this Special Issue to GIS-based methods of LCZ delineation and their application to endorse the development of high-quality LCZ data. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Innovative GIS-based LCZ mapping methods;
- Analyses on producer and user accuracy for GIS-based and other methods;
- Studies on spatiotemporal variability of thermal exposure in LCZs;
- Application of LCZ concept in urban areas

Dr. Michal Lehnert
Dr. Jan Geletič
Dr. Stevan Savić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

local climate zone
urban climate
urban heat island
thermal exposure
urban planning
geographic information system
urban landscape
land use/cover

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 18744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of “Observation Minus Reanalysis” Method towards LULC Change Impact over Southern India

by Sridhara Nayak, Suman Maity, Netrananda Sahu, Atul Saini, Kuvar Satya Singh, Hara Prasad Nayak and Soma Dutta

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2022, 11(2), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi11020094 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2712

Abstract

This study performed a land use and land cover (LULC) change analysis over Southern India for the period 1981–2006 from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images of AVHRR data and applied the “observation minus reanalysis” (OMR) method to investigate the impact of the LULC change on the temperature of the region. The LULC change analysis indicated that the areas under agriculture/fallow land were significantly increased while the areas under shrubs/small vegetation were decreased during the period 1981–2006. The areas under forest cover and barren land were also decreased but relatively low compared to the other LULC types. The OMR results showed that the LULC changes over urban areas contributed to warming with a temperature of 0.02 °C during this period, while that over non-urban areas showed a cooling effect with a temperature reduction of 0.29 °C and that over the whole Southern India (looked at an average) indicated a cooling effect with a temperature reduction of 0.063 °C. The comparative analysis between the two (LULC change analysis and OMR) results showed that the cooling over Southern India was mostly due to the expansion of agriculture/fallow land and the decline of shrubs/small vegetation. The study suggests that the OMR method reasonably demonstrates the effect of LULC changes on the temperature over Southern India. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of GIS-Based Mapping of Local Climate Zones in Urban Areas)

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21 pages, 12182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Humidity Characteristics in “Local Climate Zones” of Novi Sad (Serbia) Based on Long-Term Data

by Jelena Dunjić, Dragan Milošević, Milena Kojić, Stevan Savić, Zorana Lužanin, Ivan Šećerov and Daniela Arsenović

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2021, 10(12), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10120810 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3467

Abstract

This study aims to investigate spatial and temporal dynamics and relationship between air temperature and five air humidity parameters (relative humidity, water vapor pressure, absolute humidity, specific humidity, and vapor pressure deficit) in Novi Sad, Serbia, based on two-year data (December 2015–December 2017). The analysis includes different urban areas of Novi Sad, which are delineated in five built (urban) types of local climate zones (LCZ) (LCZ 2, LCZ 5, LCZ 6, LCZ 8, and LCZ 9), and one land cover (natural) local climate zone (LCZ A) located outside the urban area. Temporal analysis included annual, seasonal, and monthly dynamics of air temperature and air humidity parameters, as well as their patterns during the extreme periods (heat and cold wave). The results showed that urban dry island (UDI) occurs in densely urbanized LCZ 2 from February to October, unlike other urban LCZs. The analysis of the air humidity dynamics during the heat wave shows that UDI intensity is most pronounced during the daytime, but also in the evening (approximately until midnight) in LCZ 2. However, lower UDI intensity is observed in the afternoon, in other urban LCZs (LCZ 6, LCZ 8, and LCZ 9) and occasionally in the later afternoon in LCZ 5. Regression analysis confirms the relationship between air temperature and each of the analyzed air humidity parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of GIS-Based Mapping of Local Climate Zones in Urban Areas)

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19 pages, 6293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Climate Zones, Land Surface Temperature and Air Temperature Interactions: Case Study of Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic

by Hana Středová, Filip Chuchma, Jaroslav Rožnovský and Tomáš Středa

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2021, 10(10), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10100704 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1972

Abstract

The current application of local climate zones (LCZs) often ends with (inter)zonal comparation of land surface temperature (LST) or air temperature (AT). LST evaluation employs an enhanced concept of LCZs together with cluster analysis for LCZs grouped based on LST. The paper attempts to combine them into a complex approach derived from the case study on a medium-sized Central European city (Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic). In particular, the paper addresses the following. (i) The relation of LST and AT, when the daily course of temperature profile ranging clear off the surface up to 2 m was fitted by a rational 2D function. The obtained equation enables derivation of the AT from LST and vice versa. (ii) The differences in thermal response of LCZs based on LST or AT, where the highest average LST and average maximum LST show LCZs 10, 2, 3 and 8, i.e., with a significant proportion of artificial surfaces. The cluster of LCZs with a significant representation of vegetation, LCZs 9, B, D, A and G, have significantly lower LST. (iii) The contribution of LCZs to understanding of LST/AT relation and whether their specific relation could be expected in particular LCZs, when subsequent interaction assessment of LST and AT revealed statistically their significant correlation in LCZs for certain cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of GIS-Based Mapping of Local Climate Zones in Urban Areas)

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21 pages, 4236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Ecohydrological and Climatological Zoning of the Cities: Case Study of the City of Pilsen

by Jan Kopp, Jindřich Frajer, Marie Novotná, Jiří Preis and Martin Dolejš

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2021, 10(5), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10050350 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2193

Abstract

Standardized delimiting of local climate zones (LCZ) will be better applicable to the urban adaptation to climate change when the ecohydrological properties of LCZ units are known. Therefore, the properties of LCZ units based on the methodology of ecohydrological zoning of the urban landscape, which was created in GIS as a basis for planning blue-green infrastructure of cities in the Czech Republic, are presented in the paper. The goal of this study is to compare approaches and results of our own ecohydrological zonation and standardized LCZ delimiting in the city of Pilsen. Both methodological approaches differ in input data, resolution details and parameters used. The results showed that the areas of the individual LCZ classes show different levels of ecohydrological qualities. Internal heterogeneity of LCZ classes demonstrated by variance of ecohydrological parameters’ values can be partly explained by different techniques and data sources for delimitation of both zonations, but by different sets of delimitation criteria. The discussion is held on the importance of terrain slope for supplementing the LCZ classification. A case study can be a stimulus for further development of holistic urban zoning methodologies that would take into account both climatological and ecohydrological conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of GIS-Based Mapping of Local Climate Zones in Urban Areas)

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Review

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34 pages, 4352 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mapping Local Climate Zones and Their Applications in European Urban Environments: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Development Trends

by Michal Lehnert, Stevan Savić, Dragan Milošević, Jelena Dunjić and Jan Geletič

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2021, 10(4), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10040260 - 12 Apr 2021

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 7182

Abstract

In the light of climate change and burgeoning urbanization, heat loads in urban areas have emerged as serious issues, affecting the well-being of the population and the environment. In response to a pressing need for more standardised and communicable research into urban climate, the concept of local climate zones (LCZs) has been created. This concept aims to define the morphological types of (urban) surface with respect to the formation of local climatic conditions, largely thermal. This systematic review paper analyses studies that have applied the concept of LCZs to European urban areas. The methodology utilized pre-determined keywords and five steps of literature selection. A total of 91 studies were found eligible for analysis. The results show that the concept of LCZs has been increasingly employed and become well established in European urban climate research. Dozens of measurements, satellite observations, and modelling outcomes have demonstrated the characteristic thermal responses of LCZs in European cities. However, a substantial number of the studies have concentrated on the methodological development of the classification process, generating a degree of inconsistency in the delineation of LCZs. Recent trends indicate an increasing prevalence of the accessible remote-sensing based approach over accurate GIS-based methods in the delineation of LCZs. In this context, applications of the concept in fine-scale modelling appear limited. Nevertheless, the concept of the LCZ has proven appropriate and valuable to the provision of metadata for urban stations, (surface) urban heat island analysis, and the assessment of outdoor thermal comfort and heat risk. Any further development of LCZ mapping appears to require a standardised objective approach that may be globally applicable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of GIS-Based Mapping of Local Climate Zones in Urban Areas)

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