Using Multi-Temporal Land Surface Temperature Analysis to Support Climate-Oriented Green Infrastructure Planning: The Case of Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy)

Abstract

Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects are increasingly affecting Mediterranean coastal cities, where climate change, urbanization, and seasonal tourism intensify thermal stress and environmental vulnerability. In this context, climate-oriented planning and green infrastructure are recognized as key strategies for urban adaptation. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and vegetation cover in the coastal municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro (northeastern Italy) through the analysis of Landsat imagery acquired between 1984 and 2023. Summer LST and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps were derived from June–August observations and used to assess long-term thermal dynamics, vegetation patterns, and Urban Heat Island development. Meteorological data indicate a significant increase in mean annual air temperature, with a warming trend of approximately 0.57 °C per decade between 1984 and 2023. Correspondingly, Landsat-derived LST maps reveal a marked intensification of summer surface temperatures, with mean summer LST increasing from 32.16 °C in 1984–1993 to a peak of 35.91 °C in 2004–2013, followed by a slight decrease to 35.77 °C during 2014–2023. During the same period, the proportion of municipal surfaces characterized by temperatures above 35 °C increased from 10.7% to more than 60%, while cooler areas (<30 °C) declined from 17.7% to 2.3%. The comparison between LST and NDVI patterns revealed a persistent inverse relationship between vegetation cover and surface temperature, with coastal pinewoods, green spaces, and water bodies consistently exhibiting lower thermal values than densely urbanized sectors. A key methodological contribution of the study is the operational integration of satellite-derived thermal remote sensing into the Green Plan of Lignano Sabbiadoro. LST mapping was used to identify priority areas for climate adaptation measures, including ecological corridors, wooded landscape connections, urban green corridors, and depaving interventions. The results demonstrate how multi-temporal thermal analysis can support evidence-based planning by linking climate assessment with the spatial prioritization and design of green infrastructure strategies. The proposed workflow provides a transferable framework for integrating remote sensing into climate-informed planning processes in Mediterranean coastal cities and other urban contexts increasingly exposed to heat-related risks.