Analysis of the Surface Urban Heat Island Changes according to New Towns Development and Correlation with Urban Morphology

Land cover change due to urban population concentration and urban expansion can cause various environmental problems such as urban heat islands. In particular, New towns are considered an appropriate study site to analyze changes in urban climate due to rapid urbanization in a short period. This study used Landsat satellite imagery to compare and analyze the land cover changes before and after the development of two new towns with different plans, and the resulting changes in surface urban heat island (SUHI) phenomena. Correlation analysis was also conducted between urban structural features that may affect the SUHI intensity. The results of the analysis confirm the rapid change in land cover as new town development progresses and the direct intensification of the SUHI phenomenon. This study confirms the differences in SUHI caused by different urban plans and suggests the need for threedimensional urban planning to improve the thermal environment.