Urban growth and heat islands: A case study in micro-territories for urban sustainability

Rapid urbanization contributes to the development of phenomena such as climate variability, especially in tropical countries, which negatively impact ecosystems and humans, factors that influence urban sustainability. Additionally, the increase of building construction prevents the flow of wind streams contributing to the retention of pollutants and hot air masses, causing events such as urban heat islands (UHI). This study aimed to analyze from the micro-territorial level, the influence of urban growth on the UHI phenomenon over the last two decades (2000–2020) in the locality of Kennedy, in Bogotá, Colombia. For this purpose, environmental and socio-economic factors were evaluated. For the former, Landsat satellite images and spectral indices were used to evaluate the spatial–temporal variation in the quantity and quality of vegetation, bodies of water, urbanized areas, impervious surfaces, as well as to calculate the land surface temperature and its distribution in the study area. With regard to the socio-economic factors, the variables considered for analysis were population density and energy consumption. Lastly, a principal component analysis was carried out to identify possible associations between the variables and to identify the contribution of each micro-territory to the UHI phenomenon in the study area. The spatio-temporal variations reveal a growing trend over time, especially in impermeable areas where several economic activities, vehicular traffic, and population density converge, which require certain actions to be prioritized in territorial planning and the addition of public green spaces in urban zones.