Elucidating Urban Heat Island in an Industrial Town/s: A Case Study of Jamshedpur Urban Agglomeration

Cities experiences higher temperatures compared to surrounding rural regions. The research utilized remote sensing data to analyze spatio-temporal changes in land use and land cover, land surface temperature , Normalized Difference Vegetation Index , and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) across Jamshedpur Urban Agglomeration over 35 years from 1990 to 2025. The findings revealed a significant increase in built-up areas (237%) and a decrease in vegetation (21%), resulting in rise in average land surface temperature from 22.5°C in 1990 to 30.1°C in 2025. Industrial cores, commercial hubs, and densely populated residential areas were identified as severe UHI zones, with temperatures up to 5°C higher. Commercial areas like Sakchi and Bistupur emerged as localized UHIs, with temperatures up to 3°C higher than surrounding residential areas.

Heating patterns in residential area was influenced by urban morphology, building materials, and green cover. Slum clusters experiences high temperatures (35.5°C) due to high-density, low-rise dwellings with heat-trapping roofing materials, and sparse vegetation. In contrast, planned low-density housing areas like Sakchi recorded relatively lower temperatures (30-31.3°C) due to higher vegetation cover and more permeable surfaces. The research emphasizes the urgent need for interventions to mitigate UHI effects. These include implementing cool roof technologies, expanding green spaces, enhancing ventilation through climate-sensitive urban design, and developing hierarchical networks of green areas at various scales.

The study underscores the importance of incorporating UHI adaptation into urban planning policies to create more livable and climate-resilient cities. The research highlights the necessity of proactively mapping UHIs, conducting granular assessments of localized drivers, and adopting heat-mitigating measures synergistically across building, neighborhood, and city scales. As India's urbanization continues to accelerate, this research exemplifies the necessity of incorporating urban heat island adaptation as a policy priority for fostering livable, climate-resilient cities.