Urban Heat Island Web Map

This tool uses satellite imagery to assess temperature variations within urban environments.

Climate Change Adaptation Resilience Roadmap Webmaps

This interactive webmap, made by Hoare Lea, illustrates how different urban areas feel in terms of thermal sensation by measuring the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) of six cities in the UK: London, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham and Glasgow.

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect refers to the phenomenon in which cities experience hotter temperatures in comparison to suburban or rural areas. As cities develop, roads, pavements, and buildings replace vegetative surfaces (like grass, trees, and plants) that have a natural cooling effect. Instead, man-made surfaces absorb the sun’s heat and radiates it back to be trapped within dense urban areas.

UTVI specifically measures how the Land Surface Temperature (LST) of a particular area differs from the average temperature of the surrounding area. This index is crucial for analysing UHI effects and understanding thermal temperature anomalies that may impact environmental quality, public health, and infrastructure planning. Areas that deviate significantly may signal heat stress zones, altered land cover, or issues related to urban design and vegetation loss.

*This tool uses UTFVI and LST derived from calibrated satellite imagery. While images can help urban planners and environmental researchers explore patterns of surface temperature variation in cities, the data is indicative only. It is based on a limited number of satellite images per year, and availability may vary significantly due to cloud cover and atmospheric conditions.

Important: The information provided in the map should not be used for planning, design, formal risk assessment, cost evaluation, or other decision-making purposes. We make no guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the data, and accept no liability for any use or interpretation of the results.

To learn more about the data and research behind the map, click here: https://hoarelea.com/2025/06/26/how-will-we-cool-down-homes-offices-hospitals-and-schools/

UK Climate Resilience Roadmap

This Roadmap sets out a vision for a climate resilient built environment, sharing clear recommendations for the industry and policy, and next steps needed to increase the climate resilience of our built environment.