Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Geography

Supervisor

Voogt, James A.

Abstract

Surface temperature plays a key role in many micro-scale urban processes. Walls comprise a significant percentage of the urban surface, yet are under-represented by many methods of thermal remote sensing and not considered in detail by micro-scale surface temperature mod- els. This thesis presents a novel method of mobile thermal observation performed in urban street canyons in London, ON that uses a thermal imager as well as a visual spectrum camera to provide dense spatial and temporal resolution of micro-scale wall temperature distributions. Images are manually classified by a series of nominal variables and the resulting data set discusses the influence of micro-scale wall geometry on shading patterns and temperature distributions. Results show that micro-scale geometry both cools and heats walls, that small amounts of geo- metric complexity significantly affect temperature distributions, and that micro-scale structure may warm facets at night. Implications for temperature and wind applications are discussed.

Share

COinS