The rapid urbanization and developments around the globe have led to major changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) of urban and non-urban areas. Land use relates to the use of land as urban, non-urban, industry, agriculture, etc. Land cover relates to the cover of land as soil, vegetation, concrete, asphalt, etc. LULC changes can potentially affect Urban Heat Islands (UHI) that are areas with higher temperature than their surroundings. Changes of LULC could create or intensify UHIs by attracting more human or industrial activities. Changes of the features of UHIs over time regarding changes of LULC can clarify their relationship, which would help practitioners in better designing and altering urban areas. The demand for timely and accurate information on land resources and natural ecosystems has increased due to rapid urbanization and its impact on climate change. Urban heat islands, a result of urbanization, require precise land cover classification to mitigate their effect in both developed and developing cities. Such classification enables the identification of changes in built-up areas. The complex dynamics of LULC changes have sparked extensive scientific debate due to their diverse environmental natural and anthropogenic impacts. Land use represents how land is utilized includes categories such as agricultural land, industrial land, wildlife management areas, urban and recreational areas. On the other hand, land cover refers to natural or man-made elements such as water, snow, grassland, deciduous forest, vegetation, and bare ground. This research aims to investigate the relationship between LULC changes and UHIs (or Land Surface Temperature (LST)) in Kut, Iraq. It will employ remote sensing techniques, GIS analysis, and climate data to quantify LULC dynamics and temperature variations using satellite imagery from Landsat 8. The relationship between LULC and UHIs are analyzed using spatial regression models during time period from 2021 to 2025. It will assess how various LULC types influence surface temperatures. The outcomes can provide insights for sustainable urban planning and better life for urban residents. The research problem contains three main pillars. First, deriving LULC maps from Landsat 8 image and reveal their temporal changes. Second, calculating LST and UHIs maps from the satellite image. Third, discover the statistical relation between the LULC changes and LST map for the time period from 2021 to 2025. The study signifies the relationship between the LULC changes and UHI. Recommendations include using higher-resolution imagery and integrating socio-economic data for more comprehensive future studies. This research provides valuable insights and tools for sustainable urban development in Kut, Iraq and similar regions.
