What is urban heat and why does it matter in Perth?

The Urban Heat Map is an online mapping application developed by Landgate that provides access to satellite-derived land surface temperature data for the Perth and Peel region.

What does the Urban Heat Map show?

The application shows how heat varies across the Perth and Peel region using satellite-derived data. It allows users to explore differences between suburbs, identify hot spots, and understand how land cover and development patterns influence temperature.

How is the data created?

The data is derived from satellite imagery collected during Western Australian summer periods and processed to estimate land surface temperature. It is analysed over multiple years to provide a consistent view of how heat behaves across the region.

What is the heat vulnerability index?

The heat vulnerability index highlights areas that may be more susceptible to heat stress. It combines environmental factors and population characteristics to identify locations where extreme heat may have the greatest impact.

How accurate is the Urban Heat Map?

The map is designed for suburb and neighbourhood level analysis using satellite data with a resolution of approximately 100 metres. The dataset is intended to support regional, suburb and neighbourhood level analysis and should be used in conjunction with the accompanying methodology.

How can this data be used?

The dataset can be used by government, planners, and the community to understand heat patterns, support urban greening strategies, identify priority areas for cooling, and inform long-term planning decisions.

Why are some areas hotter than others?

Areas with more hard surfaces such as roads and roofs tend to retain heat, while areas with trees, vegetation, and water bodies remain cooler. Differences in density, materials, and green cover all influence local temperature patterns.

Who produces the Urban Heat Map?

The Urban Heat Map has been developed by Landgate, Western Australia’s Land Information Authority, to support a better understanding of urban heat and to inform planning and climate adaptation initiatives across the state.

Urban Heat Map of Perth & Peel Region of Western Australia

About the tool

What is the
Urban Heat Map?

The Urban Heat Map provides access to more than a decade of satellite-derived heat data across the Perth and Peel region from 2014 onwards.

The Urban Heat Map has been developed to improve access to spatial information and support analysis by government, industry, and researchers.

By combining thermal satellite imagery captured during each Western Australian summer, the map reveals how roof colours, housing density, tree canopy coverage, and built materials influence local temperature patterns. The differences can be striking in some areas where temperatures can vary by several degrees within a single suburb. By comparing an area across years, users can see temperature changes as the colour changes. By comparing one area to another on the same day, users can see the temperature difference by colour between those areas.

Powered by 100-metre-resolution satellite imagery, it is suitable for analysing suburbs, streets, and commercial precincts while remaining practical for city-wide planning.

urbanheat.landgate.wa.gov.au/map

Heat Vulnerability Index

Low

High

Features

Easy-to-use map

The Urban Heat Map includes a range of tools to help users explore and compare land surface temperature information. It is accessible through a standard web browser. Open, zoom, and explore.

01

11+ years of data

View summer snapshots from 2014 to present for year-on-year comparison across the Perth and Peel region.
02

Local Government District

Display and compare data across the 33 local government districts within the Perth and Peel region.
03

Heat Vulnerability Index

View the heat vulnerability index layer to explore relative heat vulnerability across the region. Colour-coded scores from 0, low, to 5, high, show susceptibility to heat stress by area.
04

Temperature Profile Tool

Draw a line between any two points to generate a surface temperature cross-section chart.
05

Opacity Control

Blend heat layers with underlying satellite imagery using an interactive opacity slider.
06

Mobile compatible

Full pinch-to-zoom and pan support on any device. No app download or account required.
07

Annual Snapshots

Compare how heat patterns in any suburb have changed year by year since 2014.

Ready to Explore
Urban Heat in Perth?

Open the free interactive map and start comparing heat data across Perth and Peel. No login required.

Frequently asked questions

Urban Heat Perth and Peel Region

What is theUrban Heat Map?

Easy-to-use map

Ready to ExploreUrban Heat in Perth?

Frequently asked questions

What is the
Urban Heat Map?

Ready to Explore
Urban Heat in Perth?