What geospatial data can tell us about urban heat in Australia

As climate change intensifies and urban areas expand, understanding the spatial dynamics of heat becomes critical. Geospatial data can be a powerful tool to help us analyse, predict, and mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. But what exactly can this data tell us?

1. Land Surface Temperature: The real kind of heat map

At the heart of urban heat analysis is Land Surface Temperature (LST) data, which is typically captured using satellites. These datasets make it possible to map temperature variations across cities with high spatial resolution.

In Australia, LST data has revealed stark contrasts between urban and surrounding rural areas—often showing temperature differences of 2–12°C or more. Western Sydney, for example, consistently records higher surface temperatures than its coastal counterparts, largely due to its built environment and lower tree canopy coverage.

By layering LST data over urban maps, planners can pinpoint hotspots, track changes over time, and assess the effectiveness of cooling interventions like tree planting or reflective surfaces.

2. Land Use and Land Cover: The urban environment’s heat signature

Urban heat is deeply tied to the materials and structures that make up our cities. Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) data helps us understand how different surfaces—concrete, asphalt, vegetation, water—interact with solar radiation.

Impervious surfaces like roads and rooftops absorb and retain heat, while vegetated areas and water bodies tend to cool their surroundings. In cities like Brisbane and Melbourne, LULC data has been used to identify areas where green infrastructure could be expanded to reduce heat retention.

This data also supports scenario planning: what would happen if a car park was converted into a park? Or if a new development included green roofs and permeable pavements? LULC datasets help planners simulate these changes before they happen.

3. Building Density and Height: Canned heat

Beyond the materials used to build them, the verticality and density of our cities is a strong contributor to urban heat. Building density and height data, often derived from LiDAR scans or 3D city models, reveals how urban form influences heat distribution.

Dense clusters of tall buildings can trap heat and reduce airflow, creating ‘urban canyons’ that intensify the UHI effect. In Sydney’s CBD, for instance, narrow streets flanked by high-rises can retain heat well into the evening, contributing to discomfort and increased energy use.

Understanding these patterns helps inform design and specific urban greening strategies—like orienting buildings to maximise shade, incorporating ventilation corridors, or using materials that reflect rather than absorb heat.

4. Foot Traffic and Human Activity: Hot on the heels of movement

Urban heat isn’t just about temperature – it’s about people’s exposure to it. By leveraging geospatial foot traffic data and People Movement Data, it's easier to understand where people dwell and travel through (and where people are most active during peak heat periods).

This data is especially valuable for identifying high-risk zones – busy pedestrian areas with little shade, transport hubs with heat-retaining surfaces, or recreational spaces that lack cooling infrastructure. It also helps prioritise interventions: where should shade structures go? Which routes need more tree cover?

5. Socioeconomic and Demographic Data: Equity in Heat Resilience

Urban heat doesn’t affect everyone equally. Socioeconomic and demographic data, when layered with geospatial heat maps, reveals disparities in exposure and vulnerability.

Low-income communities often live in areas with less vegetation, older housing stock, and limited access to cooling. Elderly residents and young children, meanwhile, are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. It’s also important to remember that. in Australia, heatwaves have caused more deaths than all other natural disasters combined since 1890.

So, by integrating ABS data with environmental layers, planners can ensure that cooling strategies are equitable, prioritising the most vulnerable populations.

Turning data into action

Geospatial data doesn’t just tell us where urban heat is arising – it tells us why, who’s affected, and what we can do about it. The aforementioned datasets (and others) empower planners, councils, and developers to make informed decisions that improve urban resilience.

Platforms like Planwisely are already helping cities harness this data to design cooler, healthier environments. Whether it’s identifying heat hotspots, modelling green infrastructure, or targeting interventions based on human movement, geospatial insights are key to managing urban heat in a warming world.

As Australia continues to urbanise and face more extreme heat events, the ability to see (and act on) these patterns will grow in importance for the sustainability of our cities and the health of their people.