Phoenix, Arizona is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. It is also the hottest, and as more and more of the landscape is developed, the land loses its natural capability to cool itself, thereby creating an increasing public health issue. Climate scientists at ASU, land developers, public officials, and citizens in the hottest parts of Phoenix are attempting to cool things down a little. They used NASA ASTER and LANDSAT satellite imagery, paired with census information and heat-related public health data, to assess which neighborhoods are the hottest and in direst need of help. ASTER imagery was used to analyze heat surface temperatures, and LANDSAT was analyzed using NDVI to look at the overall vegetation cover and the greenness. This study found three neighborhoods to target with new heat-reduction development and revitalization practices, including tree and shrub planting, installing shading structures at rest areas and parks, and repaving streets and sidewalks with heat-reflecting materials.
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