abdira/djibouti-urban-heat-mapping

Satellite-based urban heat island mapping of Djibouti City using Google Earth Engine and Landsat 8 thermal data # Urban Heat Mapping of Djibouti City 🇩🇯 ## Project Overview This project uses satellite remote sensing and Google Earth Engine to map land surface temperatures across Djibouti City, identifying urban heat islands and their relationship to vulnerable communities. ## Why This Matters Djibouti City experiences average summer temperatures of 45-55°C. The city imports nearly all its food, has minimal tree cover, and construction materials absorb and radiate heat rather than deflecting it. The poorest neighbourhoods — often built with corrugated metal roofing and lacking green space — face the most extreme temperatures. I grew up in this heat. I watched my mother cook street food over a fire in these temperatures. Her health suffered — high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia — conditions worsened by an urban environment that offers no relief to the poor. This project is not abstract research. It is the documentation of a reality I have lived. ## Key Findings from the Heat Map | Zone | Temperature Range | Description | |------|-------------------|-------------| | **Port & Industrial Area** | 50°C+ (Extreme Heat) | Concrete surfaces, metal infrastructure, zero vegetation — the hottest part of the city | | **Balbala & Outer Districts** | 45-50°C (Very Hot) | Dense low-income housing, minimal green space, corrugated metal roofing | | **City Center (Plateau du Serpent)** | 40-45°C (Hot) | Mixed commercial and residential, some shade from buildings | | **Residential Periphery** | 35-40°C (Warm) | Less dense areas with some open ground | | **Coastal Edge & Port Outskirts** | 25-30°C (Cool) | Sea breeze cooling effect, proximity to water | | **Ambouli Riverbed & Vegetated Areas** | Below 25°C (Coolest) | Presence of water and sparse vegetation provides natural cooling | ## Key Insight The temperature difference between the hottest and coolest areas of Djibouti City exceeds **25°C**. The hottest zones are overwhelmingly the poorest neighbourhoods — communiti …