Assessing Human Settlement Suitability in the Global South Using Modified Grey Relational Approaches and Remote Sensing Algorithms

Abstract

Abstract Rapid urbanization in Bangladesh affects people's way of life, so finding safe places to settle is essential. A spatial analysis of Land Surface Temperature (LST) for nine districts of Bangladesh between 2000 and 2020 using Landsat Data (L5 and L8) has been conducted to gain insight into the LST, the impact of urban heat islands, and the livability scenario. Using the Living Index, which takes into account important variables underlying land surface temperature variance and the Urban Heat Island Index (UHIindex), the study ranks districts based on how physically comfortable their residents report them to be. Images from both the Landsat 5 satellite (2000–2010), and the Landsat 8 satellite (2015–2020), were used to compile remote sensing indices updated every five years. Grey Relational Modeling indicated that two of the five indices, the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and the Normalized Multi-band Drought Index (NMDI), had the most decisive impact on LST. It implies that urbanization and other human activity will alter land usage, affecting the Earth's average surface temperature. In eight of the twenty-two districts, the average UHI index value was more significant than 0.5, with 0.70 being the worst result. Rangpur ranked lowest in the UHI index but first in the NDBI and NMDI, as measured by the Living Index. The UHIindex value was highest in Rajshahi. Dhaka and Chattogram are popular places for lower-class citizens to call home. Sustainable urban planning techniques and environmental regulations can benefit from this study's conclusions.