Urban Heat Islands and Land-Use Patterns in Zagreb: A Composite Analysis Using Remote Sensing and Spatial Statistics

Dino Bečić () and Mateo Gašparović
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Dino Bečić: Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mateo Gašparović: Chair of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-26

Abstract: Urban heat islands (UHIs) present a growing environmental issue in swiftly urbanizing regions, where impermeable surfaces and a lack of vegetation increase local temperatures. This research analyzes the spatial distribution of urban heat islands in Zagreb, Croatia, utilizing remote sensing data, urban planning metrics, and spatial-statistical analysis. Composite rasters of land surface temperature (LST) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were generated from four cloud-free Landsat 9 images obtained in the summer of 2024. The data were consolidated into regulatory planning units through zonal statistics, facilitating the evaluation of the impact of built-up density and designated green space on surface temperatures. A composite UHI index was developed by combining normalized land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) measurements, while spatial clustering was examined with Local Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi*. The results validate spatial patterns of heat intensity, with high temperatures centered in densely built residential areas. This research addresses the gap in past UHI studies by providing a reproducible approach for detecting thermal stress zones, linking satellite data with spatial planning variables. The results support the development of localized climate adaptation methods and highlight the importance of integrating green infrastructure into urban planning methodologies.

Keywords: urban heat islands; land surface temperature; Zagreb; R; spatial analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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