F.F. Monteiro et al./ Journal of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing 01 (2013) 01-13 32 OPEN JOURNAL SYSTEMS ISSN:2237-2202 Available on line at Directory of Open Access Journals Journal of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing v.03, n.01 (2013) 032-044. Journal of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing www.ufpe.br/jhrs USE OF TOOLS GEOPROCESSING FOR IDENTIFICATION OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS IN TERESINA- PI Felipe Ferreira Monteiro * , Lidiane Cristina Félix Gomes ** , Ana Lúcia Ribeiro Camillo da Silveira *** , Glauciene Justino Ferreira da Silva****, Virginia Mirtes de Alcântara Silva***** * Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte-UFRN, Department of Geographic Science, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova-Lagoa Nova, Natal-RN-Brasil. Phone: 55+84 3215-3388. E-mail: felipefmonteiro@gmail.com ** Federal University of Ceará-UFC, Department of Geographic Science, Av. da Universidade, 2853 - Benfica, Fortaleza-CE-Brasil. Phone: 55+85 3366 7300. E-mail: lidiane.geo@gmail.com *** Federal University of Piauí-UFPI, Department of Construction and Architecture, Campus Universitário Ministro Petrônio Portella - Ininga, Teresina-PI-Brasil. Phone: 55+86 32155698. **** Federal University of Paraíba-UFPB, Department of Geographic Science, Av. Contorno da Cidade Universitária- Castelo Branco, João Pessoa-PB-Brasil. Phone: 55+83 32167200. ***** Federal University of Campina Grande-UFCG, Department of natural resources, Av. Aprígio Veloso, 882 – Bodocongo, Campina Grande-PB-Brasil. Phone: 55+83 21011000. Received 05 July 2013; revised 11 Sept. 2013; accepted 21 Sept. 2013 Abstract The land cover suffer constantly modifications caused by human activities or natural processes. The unplanned urban expansion is considered an aggravating factor for changes in local climate and possible formation of urban heat islands. Considering the importance of changes in land cover and its influence on the surface temperature, we performed a spatio-temporal analysis of Waterproof Surface Area (ISA), land use and its thermal field, using remote sensing techniques to the following neighborhoods: Ininga, Fatima, Joquei Club and Grooms in Teresina, PI. In parallel we could assess the evolution of the emergence of new asphalt roads, using data provided by the city planning department. It was observed a strong correlation between building materials and paving with the temperature rise of about 4 0 C in the region, due to the increase in the use of materials such as concrete and asphalt. One of the factors observed was the intense waterproofing of the area, therefore the removal of vegetation cover and an increase of 134% asphalt coverage, and the construction of major projects in the region. Keywords: Urban Climate, Remote Sensing, Use and Land Cover. Introduction Climate change is a major global concerns, where many of them are attributed to human actions on the environment. Urban areas are today the great environment of humanity living and where changes are perceived more. Many of these changes are coming from the human activity on the environment, such as the vegetation suppression, soil sealing and inadvertent use of asphalt paving.