Urban morphology dataset of Reunion Island based on the local climate zone classification using satellite imagery and GIS data

TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed urban morphology dataset for Reunion Island using satellite and GIS data to classify urban areas for climate and planning studies.

Contribution

The paper introduces a high-resolution LCZ-based urban morphology dataset for Reunion Island, integrating satellite and GIS data for climate and urban planning analysis.

Findings

The dataset includes LCZ classifications, building heights, and surface fractions at 100 m x 100 m resolution.

Compact urban zones (LCZ 1-3) are mapped to identify areas at high risk of climatic impacts.

The dataset supports comparative urban climate studies with other small island states like Mauritius.

Abstract

This dataset provides a high-resolution spatial classification of urban morphology on Reunion Island, France, using a 100 m x 100 m grid based on the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) framework. The data were generated through a combination of satellite imagery analysis using the World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) method and Geographic Information System (GIS) data integration. The classification was refined using building height and surface fraction data from the BD TOPO 2018 database, improving the accuracy of urban form representation.

The dataset is provided in shapefile format, facilitating its use in GIS software by urban planners, researchers, and policymakers. Each grid point contains geospatial and morphological attributes, including LCZ classification, average building height (m), and built surface fraction (%). These parameters allow researchers to spatially correlate urban morphology with observed temperature data, supporting targeted urban heat island (UHI) studies. The most compact LCZ types (LCZ 1, 2, and 3) are mapped in detail, highlighting zones on the island most exposed to climatic risks. These high-risk areas should be identified and prioritized for climate mitigation strategies.

Beyond UHI analysis, the dataset allows for the identification of land use patterns and urban growth trends by analyzing the spatial distribution of LCZ across the island. Areas of recent expansion, often characterized by transitions from natural zones (LCZ 11, 14) to LCZ 6 or 9 (low-rise and sparsely built, can be geolocated and compared with zoning regulations. This offers urban planners a tool to evaluate whether current development aligns with local urban containment policies and to identify zones at risk of unregulated sprawl.

Because the LCZ classification system is internationally standardized, the dataset also supports comparative urban climate studies. It can be directly used to contrast Reunion’s urban structure with other small island developing states, such as Mauritius, in order to evaluate similarities and differences in urbanization dynamics under similar climatic constraints.

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