Spatial Temporal Analysis of Thermal Comfort to Make Liveable City in Palembang, Indonesia

Abstract

Increased anthropogenic activities and reduced urban green space contribute to heating problems, impacting the thermal comfort of urban spaces. This research analyzes spatial-temporal of thermal comfort to inform the creation of liveable cities. Palembang City, experiencing rapid urbanization and land-use changes, was chosen as the study area. Landsat 8 data from 2013 to 2023 was obtained and processed using Google Earth Engine. The land surface temperature algorithm applied to the Landsat 8 thermal infrared channel (band 10) provided data for thermal comfort assessment. Vegetation cover was assessed using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) combined with the Normalized Burn Ratio 2 (NBR2) was used to reffne the identiffcation of built-up areas. These algorithms were applied to channels that had been corrected for surface reflectance radiometry to minimize bias caused by seasonal variations and atmospheric disturbances. The results revealed spatial variations in thermal comfort, with uncomfortable patterns in the central business zone, some comfortable areas in the transition zone, and generally comfortable conditions in the suburban zone. The comparison between EVI and NDBI-NBR2 showed a linear relationship, suggesting that areas previously covered by vegetation have been converted into built-up area. This confirms that land cover conditions, particularly the conversion of vegetation to built-up areas, influence the observed phenomenon. Spatial-temporal analysis of thermal comfort can be a valuable parameter for urban planning. Policymakers can utilize this information as a control mechanism to contribute to the creation of more livable cities.