Résumé
The effects of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on the intensity of surface urban heat islands (SUHI) in Phnom Penh is a significant concern due to the city’s rapid urbanization. As the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has the highest population density, making it par- ticularly susceptible to SUHI effects. These effects can lead to increased energy consumption and pose health risks to residents. This study examines the correlation between LULC cat- egories (water, built-up areas, bare ground, green areas, and agricultural land) and SUHI during the dry season. The study also employed remote sensing techniques, analyzing Land- sat 8 (OLI/TIRS) satellite data for land surface temperature (LST) and classifying LULC using a Support Vector Machine algorithm with Sentinel 2 satellite data. As a consequence, the SUHI was calculated by zonal analysis between the mean LST on built-up areas and non-built-up areas. The research findings indicate a mean LST increase in the study area from 28.17◦C in 2015 to 30.33◦C in 2023, an average rise of 0.27◦C annually over eight years. The study also reveals a decline in water, green areas, and agricultural land, while built-up areas and bare ground have expanded, with built-up areas alone increasing from 30.82% to 45.83%. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the mean temperatures of bare ground, built-up, and agricultural land are higher than those of water and green areas. Notably, the average SUHI intensity index decreased from 1.12◦C to 0.93◦C during the same period. These results are important for promoting sustainable urban development and mitigating SUHI effects. They provide valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and relevant authorities to formulate effective strategies for Phnom Penh’s urban landscape.