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Review
. 2025 Mar 8;197(4):365.
doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-13810-3.

A review of urban heat island mapping approaches with a special emphasis on the Indian region

Renugadevi N  1 , Manu Mehta  2 , Gideon Daniel Giftson T  1
Affiliations
Review

A review of urban heat island mapping approaches with a special emphasis on the Indian region

Renugadevi N et al. Environ Monit Assess. .

Abstract

With an estimated population of about 6 billion living in urban areas by 2050, controlling the rate of urbanization is one of the major challenges governments face in the twenty-first century. Increasing urbanization is problematic since it causes heat accumulation within urban areas due to the enhanced anthropogenic activities. With developing countries like India aiming for their economic growth, combating urban heat islands (UHIs) is a critical step in improving the quality of life. Efficient mitigation of UHI effects requires accurate mapping and monitoring, which can be enhanced through the use of machine learning and deep learning algorithms. This paper provides a critical review of UHI mapping approaches employed globally, with a particular emphasis on the Indian region along with a focus on AI-based methods. Key issues, challenges, and future research directions are also discussed.

Keywords: AI; In-situ; India; Machine learning; Remote sensing; Urban heat island.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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