Preliminary study of urban heat island: Measurement of ambient temperature and relative humidity in relation to landcover in Kuala Lumpur

Urbanization creates a landscape modification that leads to urban heat island; this problem is worsening in Kuala Lumpur areas with a large number of population, extensive economic activities with a wide range of factories and transportation, and a modern lifestyle; air conditioner uses, due to the heat generated. This preliminary study examined the correlation of ambient temperature and relative humidity and its relationship to landcover types. The appropriate approach of conducting in situ measurement should be identified before carrying out future study in order to avoid bias. A mobile survey with a temperature data logger with GPS and the processing of remote sensing images for the identification of landcover are applied. Qualitative and quantitative analysis indicates that the landcover conditions will influence the urban temperature that indirectly contributed to the occurrence of urban heat island.