LCZ maps, urban growth trajectories, and SUHI trends for Delhi, Lucknow, Pune, and Kolkata, 2013–2024

This dataset contains the derived geospatial data used in the study “Linking urban growth trajectories to decadal surface urban heat island changes in Indian cities.” The study examines how different urban growth trajectories, particularly horizontal urban expansion and urban densification, are associated with daytime and nighttime surface urban heat island (SUHI) changes from 2013 to 2024 in four Indian cities: Delhi, Lucknow, Pune, and Kolkata. The dataset includes Local Climate Zone (LCZ) maps for 2013 and 2024, LCZ-based urban growth trajectory maps, annual daytime and nighttime SUHI intensity maps, and pixel-level SUHI trend estimates. LCZ maps were generated using a supervised Random Forest classification framework based on manually delineated LCZ reference samples and multi-source remote-sensing and ancillary predictors. Urban growth trajectories were derived from pixel-wise LCZ transitions between 2013 and 2024. Annual SUHI intensity was calculated from summer-season land surface temperature anomalies relative to unchanged natural LCZ reference areas. Pixel-level SUHI trends were estimated for 2013–2024 separately for daytime and nighttime conditions.