ALBEDOMAPS: PROPOSAL OF A DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR MONITORING URBAN HEAT ISLANDS IN THE CUIABÁ METROPOLITAN REGION

Abstract

Tropical cities have experienced increasing urban heat island intensification due to rapid urban expansion, soil sealing, and the reduction of vegetative cover, factors that negatively affect public health, energy consumption, and overall quality of life. In the Cuiabá metropolitan region, characterized by persistently high temperatures, there is a lack of accessible digital platforms capable of integrating climate data and supporting urban planning strategies. In response to this gap, this study proposes the development of AlbedoMaps, a collaborative digital platform designed to monitor urban heat islands using remote sensing data. The methodological approach is based on the conceptual modeling of the system, integrating Landsat 8/9 satellite data and Land Surface Temperature (LST) estimates obtained through the Split-Window technique into a web-based architecture developed in Python. The outcome of this proposal was the structuring of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) capable of generating interactive thermal maps while incorporating principles of citizen science and corporate environmental governance (ESG). The results indicate that the proposed platform presents significant potential as a tool to support local climate governance, democratize environmental information, and contribute to sustainable urban planning initiatives.