Local climate zones and its potential for building urban resilience: a case study of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose Urban built-up has been increasing exponentially in the world. Urban population growth and migration are depleting the land resources and creating thermal discomfort. Cities all around the world are facing urban heat island effects and increased temperatures. This study aims to map land cover and formulate local climate zones for enhancing urban resilience against disaster and climate risks. Design/methodology/approach This study uses exploratory research to identify local climate zones for Lahore, Pakistan. Landsat 8 imagery was used to develop a land use land cover map. For mapping local climate zones, the standard World Urban and Access Portal Tool procedure was used. Findings Results have revealed that Lahore has grown exponentially. Compact low rise and open low rise were the two most common local climate zones prevalent in the city. In contrast, the outer regions of the city consisted of LCZ D (low plants) and LCZ F (bare soil). Practical implications This study highlights the need to consider local climate zones in future development plans and policies for ensuring sustainable, resilient and climate-friendly cities. Originality/value Local climate zone studies are missing in Pakistan. This study has empirically analyzed the ground situation of local climate zones for Lahore metropolitan city. This study will provide baseline support for future studies on urban heat island and climate change adaptation planning.

Exploring the Choice of Bicycling and Walking in Rajshahi, Bangladesh: An Application of Integrated Choice and Latent Variable (ICLV) Models

“…Hatamzadeh et al (2017) compared the walking behavior of different worker groups in Rasht, Iran, and concluded that males were less likely to walk for commuting than females [37], which contrasted with the results of Buehler et al (2011) and McDonald (2012). Aslam et al (2018) found that, in Lahore, Pakistan, the taboo against females using bicycles deterred them to travel by bicycle [38]. The study concluded that the biking rate among females was lower in the Indian subcontinent as compared with other Asian countries, such as China.…”

Assessment of human heat vulnerability of different Local Climate Zones in Lahore Coupling remote sensing and socioeconomic data

“…Data regarding LCZs is obtained where a Standard WUDAPT methodology is used for mapping LCZs in Lahore. A comprehensive methodology for mapping LCZs in Lahore can be found in this reference [27]. On the other hand, for the assessment of human heat vulnerability, various demographic and socioeconomic factors are aggregated and an index is computed using a weighted sum.…”

“…It is important to mention that LCZ class 1, i.e. compact high-rise is not likely to occur in Lahore as per data and knowledge about the city [27]. Figure 1 presents the collected and preprocessed data regarding heat vulnerability and LCZs for Lahore.…”