Two weeks ago, a researcher from Project GUHeat contacted our office regarding a new data-gathering survey. the Geospatial Assessment and Modelling of Urban Heat Islands in Philippine Cities aim to assess the development of urban heat islands in rapidly urbanizing and highly urbanized cities in the country and develop models for estimating land surface temperatures (LST) and predicting urban heat islands (UHIs) by relating LST with environmental factors including land use.

The project is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). It is implemented by the UP Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry.

To find ways to mitigate the harmful effects of rising temperatures, they are assessing the development of urban heat islands in rapidly urbanizing and highly urbanized cities in the Philippines using satellites and modeling-simulation techniques.

The scheduled survey is on the building and vegetation annotation, which will check on the building footprint, materials used, and location. The areas covered were JM Basa street in the Calle Real area and the Iloilo River Esplanade numbers 1 and 2. The data gathered will then be used for the micro-climate modeling of two sub-sites, a central business district and a linear park along the river.

While doing the survey, I took the time to take some pictures of the buildings and here are some of them below.

The final date for the third seminar-workshop for Project GUHeat will be held in Davao City on August 14 to 16, 2019. The activities will include the presentation of the study updates of each respective participant cities and the presentation of the LST Mapping, which might involve using a program or software. I will be very interested to learn that one and also on the field activities if given the fair weather.

My last visit to Davao City was last 2012 together with the Teampoura group of friends and colleagues. I am somewhat excited this time on what the new changes the city has to offer for 2019.

The seminar-workshop will be next week already and we are still currently processing our request to attend the said event. On the positive note, if our Travel Order released today or tomorrow, then we will process the cash advance request right away. It will be hard to spend on personal money and reimburse it later on.

I am hoping that this travel will push through up until we are on the conclusion of the project. This will be a huge step to be a basis or a factor in the development of future projects in Iloilo City.  

Last week, I was a part of the team that conducted the survey on the urban heat in two routes identified within the Iloilo city proper. Representatives from UP Diliman who were part of Project GUHeat dropped by our office last Wednesday and explained how the survey will be done. I was not familiar with the actual functions and objectives of this project but I think this was the follow-up activity of the workshop in UPD last March that was attended by my boss Maam Dolly with Franco and Sir Keith.

Anyhow to summarize the two-day activity, two teams were tasked to the two identified routes wherein several spots are where the temperature along with other data such as air quality will be recorded in three separate times of the day. The time stamps were 9:00 to 11:00am, 2:00 to 4:00pm and 7:00 to 9:00pm. The starting point was in SM Delgado and I join the team where our route was from SM to Quezon Street then crossing to Valeria extension up to Rizal street, crossing the Central Market to Guanco street then JM Basa going to a part of Muelley Loney then to the front of the City Hall in Plaza Libertad and then walking the General Hughes street up to the last spot facing the NEDA office.

We were able to conduct the Thursday morning, ate lunch near that last spot and I went back to the bhaus to change clothes and rest a little bit. Going back to SM Delgado that afternoon, we were able to start with a few spots before it rained. The teams were then forced to cancel the survey up until the evening schedule that day as the road temperatures will surely be affected by the rain.

The next day Friday, it was forecasted to have isolated thunderstorms but were pursued to do the survey. It was cloudy that morning but no indication that it will rain and so we enjoyed that it was not scorching hot, unlike yesterday. Also, I was able to bring an umbrella this time. We finished the morning route and then met up with the other team for lunch. We had it at The Summer House in Yulo street near Midtown Hotel. I went home again to change as I was still soaked wet despite bringing three towels for my perspiration.

That afternoon survey proceeded as normal as the weather predictions proved false. It was very hot and the highest temperature that I recorded was nearing 60 degrees Celsius. I think the air temperature at that time was nearing 40. We scoured near the building shades as we went through the route.

The night survey was the last scheduled for them and so we planned to have a sumptuous dinner after the activity. It was faster this time as we already know the spots to record the temperature and we finished 30 minutes earlier. We went back to SM Delgado to wait for the other team and we decided to go to Tatoys Manokan in Atria. I gave them a few tips for their pasalubong needs and where to buy them.

Overall it was an enjoyable experience despite having to scour the city streets under the scorching sun. what I personally liked was the sharing of info and trivia of the various structures and heritage sites within our route. For example, identifying SM Delgado as the first SM mall outside Metro Manila.

I would be happy to see the results of our Iloilo City survey and to be part again of the future activities of Project GUHeat.

Lastly, here is one photo that we took before we started our Friday survey.