Identifying areas susceptible to urban heat islands: a case study in Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) represent a significant environmental challenge in urbanized regions, leading to elevated temperatures that impact energy consumption, health, and overall urban livability. This study focuses on identifying and analyzing areas susceptible to UHIs in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, using a combination of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The primary data sources include Landsat-8 imagery and historical meteorological data, which are processed to calculate land surface temperature (LST), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and other relevant indices. The Getis-Ord Gi* statistic is employed to identify statistically significant hot and cold spots, revealing spatial clusters of extreme temperatures. The analysis indicates that red points on the map represent extremely significant hot spots with z-scores greater than 2.58 and p-values less than 0.01, while orange points denote significant hot spots with z-scores between 1.95 and 2.58 and p-values less than 0.05. Yellow points highlight areas with somewhat elevated temperatures, categorized as hot spots with z-scores between 1.65 and 1.95 and p-values less than 0.10. In contrast, blue and dark blue points signify significant and extremely significant cold spots, respectively, indicating areas with notably lower temperatures. The study produces a detailed map illustrating the intensity and distribution of UHIs in Kota Bharu, providing essential insights for urban planners and policymakers. The study emphasize the significance of green spaces and cooling strategies in reducing UHI effects and enhancing urban resilience, highlighting the need for sustainable urban planning to tackle climate change challenges.