Tamil Nadu's heat crisis: Either build sustainably or burn
Titled 'Urban Growth and Thermal Stress: A Decadal Assessment of Built-Up Area and Climate Interactions in Tamil Nadu', the report reveals how unregulated urban expansion has created dangerous heat islands, strained infrastructure, and intensified ecological degradation in the last two decades.
The study, which integrates high-resolution spatial data from MODIS LST, ERA5 air temperature records, and building footprint changes from 1985 to 2015, maps heat exposure at the block-level for all 389 blocks across Tamil Nadu. The results show 94 blocks have witnessed a steep rise in heat over the past 40 years, while 64 blocks currently suffer from temperatures well above the state average. Particularly vulnerable are 25 blocks—including those in Chennai, Karur, and Ramanathapuram—which fall into both categories, making them high-risk zones for future climate and health.
The heat driver
The report places rapid urbanisation at the heart of the problem. Between 1985 and 2015, Tamil Nadu witnessed unprecedented expansion in built-up areas, particularly in districts like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Chengalpattu. For instance, S.S. Kulam block in Coimbatore more than doubled its built-up area from 62 sq km to 137 sq km—surpassing even Chennai, which expanded from 86 sq km to 131 sq km during the same period.
More worryingly, when built-up area is analysed relative to a block's total geographical area, the percentage of land classified as 'built' has jumped alarmingly. In Chennai, this rose from 48 per cent to 74 per cent in just three decades, while St. Thomas Malai in Chengalpattu posted a 44 pc rise, the highest relative growth recorded.
'Heat stress is becoming one of the most tangible impacts of climate change. As urban areas expand, integrating heat considerations into planning is essential to safeguard communities and protect ecosystems. Mainstreaming Heat Action Plans at the city level is now a necessity,' said Sudha Ramen, Member Secretary and Head of Division (Land Use), SPC.
Night-time heat: A silent killer
One of the most significant findings of the report relates to night-time land surface temperature (nLST), a key indicator of retained heat in urban zones. Using satellite data from MODIS, the study shows that between 2000–2005 and 2018–2023, average nLST increased by nearly 4°C in many urban and peri-urban zones. Even Tier-II cities like Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Erode are seeing worrying upward trends, which could have serious health impacts.
'We often ignore how hot nights affect human health, both physical and mental. Sustained heat exposure after sunset reduces the body's ability to recover, increasing risks of dehydration, cardiovascular stress, and even mortality,' said Shweta Narayan, Campaign Lead, Global Climate and Health Alliance.
The Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) used in the study reinforces this concern, with large areas in and around Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai falling in high thermal discomfort zones. Roughly 27 pc of the population is now residing in blocks with above-average night-time LST, putting them at prolonged risk.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
AI varsity a defining step towards building modern India: UP CM
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday inaugurated an AI-augmented multidisciplinary Chandigarh University campus in Unnao. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the UP government's push for digital and technical empowerment of youth, growing public-private investment and key reforms fostering education-industry collaboration. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (HT file) 'Blending education, technology and cultural heritage, the new institution is set to become a hub for innovation and a key pillar of the National Education Policy,' the CM added. He said the new university aligns with India's AI mission and initiatives like Start-up India and will play a vital role in elevating Uttar Pradesh's presence on national and global platforms. Yogi described Unnao as a land steeped in literature, culture, and history — blessed by the Ganga and home to icons of India's freedom struggle and literary renaissance. He recalled the legacy of figures like Raja Rao, Ram Baksh Singh and poets such as Pt Pratap Narayan Mishra, Nirala and Hasrat Mohani. 'Now, the district is poised for a technological leap with the establishment of the new campus of Chandigarh University,' he said. The university, he said, will not only be a hub of modern education but will also bridge India's ancient knowledge systems with cutting-edge technical learning, aligning with the NEP's multidisciplinary spirit to foster research, innovation and holistic growth. The CM said one of the biggest challenges facing educational institutions has been their isolation — functioning like 'islands' with limited outreach. He noted that students often remained unaware of key government schemes meant for their benefit, hindering timely career planning. Emphasising a shift in approach, he said academic institutions must evolve into platforms for career guidance, life building, and industry-oriented skill development. Campuses, Yogi said, should not only impart education but also serve as gateways to opportunity, connecting students with relevant initiatives and preparing them for the modern workforce. He said nearly 60 lakh youths in Uttar Pradesh have been provided tablets and smartphones to promote digital empowerment. Yogi said the government revised land norms to allow private universities on 50 acres in rural areas and 20 acres in urban areas. This reform has led to the establishment of 23 new private universities in the last eight years, bringing the total to 47. 'Uttar Pradesh now hosts the country's first Ayush University, its first state medical university, and is constructing its first sports university in Meerut, along with the Mahatma Buddha Agricultural University in Kushinagar,' the CM said. While encouraging the youth to contribute to nation-building, Yogi emphasised that a combination of modern and value-based (cultured) education is the foundation of a bright future for India. The CM announced that Unnao district alone is witnessing the rollout of investment projects worth ₹22,000 crore. He added that the state government is simultaneously strengthening infrastructure, with the capacity of the Police Training College—named after Shaheed Gulab Singh Lodhi—being doubled and ₹235 crore invested in the state fire training centre. Yogi announced that an ambitious AI city project is underway in Lucknow, aiming to create over 50,000 jobs with participation from more than 400 companies. IBM will lead the establishment of the AI centre, he said. Industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay, Chandigarh University chancellor and Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj and UP chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh were present on the occasion.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Digital twin tech to transform surgical decisions, personalised healthcare: Doc
1 2 Lucknow: Imagine the freedom to choose a line of treatment best suited for oneself or a dear one. This thought can become a reality with the use of digital twin technology in healthcare. Using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, a digital twin creates virtual representative of a patient. It uses their diagnostic reports and images to provide personalised treatment modalities and predict outcomes. The possibility of using this technology in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery (CVTS) was demonstrated on Saturday at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences by Prof KR Balakrishnan, a cardiothoracic and heart transplant surgeon, who has worked closely with IIT-Chennai. "A patient with a cardiac condition visits four cardiac specialists who genuinely suggest different treatment options to him. But can anyone predict which option is most suitable for the patient," he asked the audience during the 3rd Prof PK Ghosh Memorial Oration, organised on the 38th foundation day of SGPGI's CVTS department. "Technology has made a definitive reply possible. Through digital twin technology, we can use the patient's hemodynamic parameters (measurable characteristics of blood flow and pressure within the circulatory system) to simulate a post-procedure comparison for all four options. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Naturally, it is easy to pinpoint the least risky and most promising one," he said. Informing that the technology allows the use of real-time data of the patient through sensors, medical devices, and electronic health records, he noted: "These digital models allow for simulation, prediction, and optimisation of health outcomes or operational processes within the healthcare environment. It is possible to use them to extend what is known as precision medical care." "Technology can help in reducing the scope for human errors in surgery, deliver better outcomes, and save time, labour, and even money for the system and the people," he said. On the cost-effectiveness of digital technologies in healthcare, he said, "We used a free resource to develop our models. But what needs to be done is to promote interdisciplinary research. It is high time we stopped keeping engineers and doctors in different silos and help them collaborate for larger patient and public interest." 'Digital twin can greatly benefit UP' Prof Balakrishnan said that AI-based digital twin technologies, which could be used across a diverse palette of healthcare including cancer and maternal health, had immense possibilities in a state like UP where health challenges are bigger because of high population. "The shortage of doctors is a reality that needs a mammoth effort to be dealt with. Doctors even in tertiary care institutes are attending to 300 patients in four hours. Can a specialist do justice to each one of them? It is here that technology like digital twin can help in weeding out extra load of doctors so that they can extend specialised care to those genuinely in need of it," he said.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Four IIT-Kanpur profs to impart AI training to Uttar Pradesh MLAs, schedule worked out
Professors from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) will conduct classes over two days for members of the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly in order to introduce them to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential use in governance. The workshop will feature hands-on demonstrations, as well as examples of software solutions developed at IIT-Kanpur, to showcase indigenous efforts in AI. (PICTURE FOR REPRESENTATION) In its July 17 edition, HT was the first to report ('AI to help UP MLAs with digitisation of files, reports') that the upcoming monsoon session of the UP assembly will see a special IIT-Kanpur designed class on artificial intelligence for legislators, aimed at motivating them to use technology for various legislative works. Now, the details of the training schedule have emerged. The sessions will be held on the assembly premises and they will involve four faculty members from IIT-K's department of computer science and engineering. The programme aims to familiarise legislators with AI tools, their practical applications, and the ethical and technical nuances involved in their use. Prof Nitin Saxena, who is leading the initiative, said the workshop will cover a range of tools, including ChatGPT, and show how public representatives can deploy them in their day-to-day responsibilities such as drafting official notes, organising surveys, conducting constituency research and enhancing public communication. 'One of the key aspects of the training is to inform legislators that not everything generated by AI tools is accurate,' Prof Saxena said. 'Equally important is knowing how to spot such errors and exercise human judgment when using platforms like ChatGPT.' Through Saxena and his team, legislators will also be introduced to a curated list of AI tools that can support governance, improve transparency, and make decision-making more data-driven — a skill set increasingly relevant in public administration. The workshop will feature hands-on demonstrations, as well as examples of software solutions developed at IIT-Kanpur, to showcase indigenous efforts in AI. Following the initial session, MLAs interested in delving deeper into the subject will be invited to the institute for further training. Prof Saxena added that the material being shared is already available in the public domain. 'The idea is to make this knowledge accessible and actionable in legislative contexts. We will also touch upon the economics of AI and its emerging role across governance.' The state government's initiative has drawn appreciation for attempting to bridge the technological literacy gap in politics at a time when AI is reshaping policy-making across the world. The schedule for the sessions has already been finalised, with professors set to begin instruction in the coming weeks.
