Potential of hyperspectral data for urban micro climate analysis

Abstract

The urban micro climate is important for the well-being of citizens. With simulation models the urban micro climate can be studied and recommendations can be made to improve the micro climatic situation. However, mainly synthetic scenarios are simulated due to a lack of information. The objective of this paper is to explore the potential of airborne hyperspectral and height data to provide area wide information for micro climate simulations, by the example of the model ENVI-met. First the requirements for such a model are presented. Then an approach is presented in which a surface material map, surface albedo and leaf area index are derived from hyperspectral HyMap data and the object height from HRSC height data. These products are implemented as input parameters for the urban micro climate model. The paper shows that based on hyperspectral and height data realistic urban micro climate simulations can be carried out.