THIS - Tool for Heat Island Simulation: A GIS extension model to calculate urban heat island intensity based on urban geometry

This paper presents a simulation model, which was incorporated into a Geographic Information System (GIS), in order to calculate the maximum intensity of urban heat islands based on urban geometry data. The methodology of this study stands on a theoretical-numerical basis (Oke’s model), followed by the study and selection of existing GIS tools, the design of the calculation model, the incorporation of the resulting algorithm into the GIS platform and the application of the tool, developed as exemplification. The developed tool will help researchers to simulate UHI in different urban scenarios. _______________________________________________________ C. M. Nakata-Osaki Graduate Program in Urban Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil. Email: [email protected] L. C. L. Souza Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil. Email: [email protected] D. S. Rodrigues University of Minho, Department of Civil Engineering, Gualtar Campus, Braga, Portugal. Email: [email protected] CUPUM 2015 346-Paper