UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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| Abstract : Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris |
| Urbanization significantly accelerates the replacement of natural land-use and land-cover (LULC) classes, which can raise the temperature and diminish thermal comfort zone (TCZ), potentially negatively affecting the environment and human health. This study assesses and predicts the impacts of LULC change on directional shrinkage of the TCZ in Kuwait, using Landsat images and cellular automata (CA) and artificial neural networks (ANN) algorithms from 1991 to 2031. The analysis revealed a rapid urban expansion (40%) in south-east (SE), north-east (NE), and north-west (NW) directions and shrinkage of TCZ (25% area with a very uncomfortable thermal condition) in NNW and SW directions, from 1991 to 2021. The predicted scenario showed an increase in urban areas from 44% (2021) to 47% (2026) and 52% (2031). In contrast, very uncomfortable TCZ (35% in 2026 and 40% in 2031) was found concentrated around urban areas and bare land toward NNE and NNW directions. The study proposes effective and sustainable strategies to mitigate the shrinkage of TCZ, including zero-soil policies, planned landscape design, artificial water bodies, and rooftop gardens. This study will be an essential tool for promoting sustainable development in Kuwait by helping urban planners and policymakers realize the impacts of urbanization and land-use change on the TCZ. 2023, King Abdulaziz University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG. |
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