Vulnerable Populations and Urban Heat Islands: A Spatial Analysis of Socio-Demographic Factors and Heat Exposure in Stockholm

Abstract: The important urban issue of urban heat islands in Stockholm is examined in this thesis. These places influence urban sustainability, liveability, and public health because of the much higher temperatures they experience relative to their surroundings. This thesis objectives were to discover these urban heat islands, comprehend their patterns, investigate how they relate to sociodemographic characteristics, and identify vulnerable areas. Advanced remote sensing techniques and analytical techniques were used to locate and show urban heat islands. The procedure produced visualizations of urban heat patterns, illuminating the geographical distribution and intensity of these islands as well as the urban zones most exposed to risks from heat.The study found a link between hotter temperatures and places with higher population densities, as predicted by the authors. Regression analysis and visual inspection both support this link, which underlines the impact of population dynamics on the local environment and the necessity for people- centered urban development. Additionally, a connection was shown between warmer areas and locations with a non-Swedish population. This finding suggests possible differences in heat exposure and raises concerns about the urban heat occurrence in same areas as where vulnerable socio- demographic factors appear. However, more thorough research is needed to determine the underlying reasons behind this link.The lack of a significant relationship between age groups or income levels and the prevalence of urban heat in the thesis suggests that Stockholm's vulnerability to heat may not be highly associated with these variables. This highlights the complexity of urban heat and its effects. A vulnerability map was made using data from previous research on groups that are vulnerable and causing factors. It was possible to identify regions where vulnerable socio-demographics factors and heat zones overlapped when compared to the heat map, which was useful information for developing the vulnerability map, that identified the areas in need of more resources.