Estimating Surface Urban Heat Island Effects of Abeokuta Within the Context of Its Economic Development Cluster in Ogun State Nigeria: A Baseline Study Utilising Remote Sensing and Cloud-Based Computing Technologies

Abstract

The demands for growth and prosperity in developing countries have prompted Ogun State to initiate six economic development clusters oriented around its urban areas. However, little attention has been given to the environmental impact of these clusters in relation to temperature change and thermal consequences. Serving as a baseline study for the Abeokuta Cluster, whose implementation is still ongoing, this study analysed the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects for 2003, 2013, and 2023 to determine whether variations in these effects exist over time. The study utilised satellite imagery from Landsat sensors and the cloud computing power of Google Earth Engine for data collection and analysis. Findings revealed that Abeokuta City experienced varying degrees of high SUHI effects, while the surrounding areas proposed for residential and industrial development in the Abeokuta Cluster showed low SUHI effects. The differences in SUHI effects within Abeokuta City across the years were found to be statistically significant (Fwithin = 3.158, p = 0.044; Fbetween = 5.065, p = 0.025), though this was not the case for the Abeokuta cluster as a whole. This study recommends urban planning strategies and policy interventions to combat SUHI effects in Abeokuta City, along with precautionary measures for the Abeokuta Cluster.