Satellite Analysis (2013-2020) dataset - "Portal for heritage buildings integration into the contemporary built environment" (URBAN PERISCOPE)

For the needs of the “Portal for heritage buildings integration into the contemporary built environment”, in short, PERIsCOPE project, satellite observations were applied. This repository includes the results from the macro-scale analysis, for which thermal data, optical satellite images, and ready satellite products were exploited to provide multi-temporal information.

Satellite-based products estimate the temperature variations in a broader area for the selected urban testbeds (Limassol and Strovolos municipalities, Cyprus). Landsat 7 and 8 archives were downloaded through the EarthExplorer platform (“Landsat Collection 1 Level-1” for both “Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) Level-1” and “Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS C1 Level-1”). The Level-1 data downloaded from the platform were rescaled to the top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance and radiance using radiometric rescaling coefficients provided in the metadata file delivered with the Level-1 product (metadata—MTL file).

More than 140 satellite images were selected (a cloud coverage filter was applied), downloaded, and processed, covering the period between 2013 and 2020. Specifically, 16 images during the Winter season, 30 images over Spring, 57 images for Summer, and 38 during Autumn were finally gathered for both case studies.

The Google Earth Engine cloud platform infrastructure was used to extract optical products, namely the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalised Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), which characterise vegetated and built-up areas, respectively.

This repository concerns: (1) the mean Land Surface Temperature (LST) for both test sites (from 2013-2020), their standard deviation, and the maximum and minimum values. In addition, the (2) NDVI and (3) NDBI products per year (2013-2020) are provided. Lastly, (4) the seasonal variations are included.

The data are structured in both forms of ArcGIS Pro Geodatabase (.gdb), while individual .tiff formats are provided in each folder.

Further details can be found in the following references:

1. Agapiou, A.; Lysandrou, V. Observing Thermal Conditions of Historic Buildings through Earth Observation Data and Big Data Engine. Sensors 2021, 21, 4557. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21134557

2. Agapiou A., Lysandrou V., Cuca B., Copernicus earth observations for cultural heritage, Proceedings of the joint international event, 9th ARQUEOLÓGICA 2.0 & 3rd GEORES, Valencia (Spain). 26–28 April 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/Arqueologica9.2021.12512