THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC ACTIVITY ON THE INTENSITY OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND: A CASE STUDY ON THE CITY OF , MALAYSIA

Ilham Sayed Mahgoub Elsayed

University of Dammam, College of Engineering, Basic Engineering Department, Dammam 31451, P.O. Box 1982, Saudi Arabia, E-mail [email protected]

Received Oct 2011, accepted after revision Jan 2012

ُمـ ْســ َت ْخـلـَص أحد التغييرات األكثر وضوحا ضمن األنشطة البشرية لمدينة كوااللمبور هو نشاط حركة المرور. يهدف هذا البحث إلى دراسة آثار نشاط حركة المرور على شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحضرية من خالل دراسة حالة مدينة كوااللمبور، ماليزيا. فقد تم جمع البيانات المتعلقة بنشاط حركة المرور في مدينة كوااللمبور من المصادر الحكومية الماليزية وعلى وجه التحديد من بلدية مدينة كوااللمبور. في حين، استخدم منهجان معا لدراسة شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحضرية للمدينة؛ أسلوب شبكات محطات الطقس وأسلوب الدراسة االستقصائية (traverses). بينت الدراسة أن هناك زيادة في شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحضرية لمدينة كوااللمبور منذ آخر دراسة مماثلة خالل عام 5891 إلى عام 4002. الزيادة كانت 5.1 درجة مئوية. من ناحية أخرى، وجد أن هنالك زيادة تدريجية في نشاط حركة المرور من عام 5892 إلى عام 4002. أوضحت الدراسة أن عدد المركبات المسجلة بالمدينة قد زاد من 910000 مركبة عام 5992 إلى ما يزيد عن 400000000 مركبة للعام 4002. حيث تتصدر السيارات الخاصة النسبة األعلى )14%( يليها الدراجات البخارية )42%(، ثم الحافالت وسيارات األجرة معا بنسبة 5.1% فقط. رغم أن نسبة الحافالت وسيارات األجرة صغيرة جدا فهي تتحمل 40% من المجموع الكلي للحركة والترحال لهذه المدينة. لذلك خلصت الدراسة إلى أن هنالك تناسبا عكسيا بين شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحضرية وكمية الحافالت وسيارات األجرة. بينما وجدت تناسبا طرديا بين شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحضرية وكمية السيارات الخاصة والدراجات البخارية. بصورة أكثر شمولية، وجدت الدراسة أن شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحضرية تتناسب طرديا مع عدد المركبات المسجلة بالمدينة، فكلما زاد نشاط الحركة المرورية للمدينة زادت شدة حرارة الجزيرة الحرارية. ABSTRACT One of the most recognized changes in the human activities in the city of Kuala Lumpur is the traffic activity.This study aims to find the effects of traffic activity on the intensity of the urban heat island through a case study done on the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The data relative to the traffic activity in the city of Kuala Lumpur is gathered from Malaysian Governmental sources.While, two methodologies combined to study the urban heat island of the city; weather station networks method and traverses survey method. The study shows that, there is an increase in the intensity of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) of the city of Kuala Lumpur since last similar studies done during 1985 to this study in December 2004. The increase of the intensity of the UHI of the city is 1.5 o C. On the other hand, there is a gradual increase on the traffic activity since 1984 to 2004. The study shows that, the number of registered vehicles in the city increases from 85,000 vehicles in 1984 to more than 2,000,000 vehicles by 2004. In addition to that, the largest portion of vehicles registered in the city are cars (about 52%), then motorcycles (34%), and buses and taxis together (1.6%). However, this small percentage of public transport vehicle carries about 20% of the total daily trips in Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, this study concludes that, the UHI of the city is directly proportional to the number of cars and motorcycles vehicles and inversely proportional to public transport vehicles. The study shows that, the higher the percentage of registered vehicles in the city, the higher is the intensity of the UHI. Thus the Sudan Engineering Society Journal, September 2012, Volume 58; No.2 9

` THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC ACTIVITY ON THE INTENSITY OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND intensity of the UHI of the city is directly proportional to the number of registered vehicles in the city. Therefore, the study concludes that, as the traffic activity in the city increases, the intensity of the UHI of the city increases. Keywords: Kuala Lumpur, traffic activity, urban heat island

1. INTRODUCTION than the surrounding countryside, which is a phenomenon known as the urban heat island. Urban development has always been regarded as Additional visible effect result from urbanization a focal point when negative and positive urban is the increase in traffic activity. Urbanization is environmental changes are discussed. This is affecting climate and change the physical surface because urban development involves subsequent of the land. Urban man and his activities produce morphological changes which in turn modify local a significant amount of heat which contributes to planetary boundary layer conditions. In many the increased intensity of the urban heat island. developing countries, towns are expanding and Urbanization that took place in 30 urban centers an increasing proportion of the land is being in Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur plays a quite taken up for urban land uses, replacing fields, significant role in changing the urban air farms, forests and open spaces. As a result, the temperature pattern [6; 7]. One area in which majority of urban inhabitants in the world today environmental deterioration has been experiences distinctive and unpleasant climatic remarkably noticeable following rapid urban conditions [1]. growth and industrial expansion is the area of One of the profound ways in which man is Kuala Lumpur [8]. As the population grew the altering the climate, which affects him and his number of vehicles increased enormously, activities is through the building of cities [2]. In an leading to the construction of inner and outer urban setting, man, through his activities, has ring roads. More traffic means more congestion, altered the climate in various ways. He firstly, pollution, noise and deterioration of city streets, changes the physical surface of the land; buildings, public places, and more deterioration secondly, urban man and his activities produce a in the whole environment. The modern transport significant amount of heat, and finally, he revolution has extended the scope of introduces great quantities of pollutants into the urbanization deep into the countryside. Around air under such a situation, the entire energy almost every major Asian city, large numbers of balance of the area is transformed. Large commuters travel daily to work in urban areas urbanized regions have been shown to physically from villages, by bus, car, motorcycle and trains. alter their climates in the form of elevated The lands were paved for the transformation of temperatures relative to rural areas at their rural villages into urban suburbs. Malaysia has periphery [3]. The effect of metropolitan regions also seen the continuing loss of forested areas. is not only confined to horizontal temperatures Permanent forest reserve decreased from a total but also to those in the vertical direction with far- area of 6.0 million hectare in 1992 to 5.8 million reaching consequences, studies have shown that hectares in 1997, which has been also attributed the thermal influence of a large city commonly to urban related development such as housing, extends up to 200-300 m and even to 500 m and industries and roads. By 1886, a 22 mile length of more [4]. Sham [5] mentioned that, the studies at railway was opened between Klang and Kuala University Kebangsaan Malaysia over 12 year’s Lumpur and several roads were constructed later period indicate that the commercial centers of connection Kuala Lumpur with the north and Kuala Lumpur are usually several degrees warmer south [9]. The Draft report [9] added that “already there were about 65,000 cars in the

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Ilham Sayed Mahgoub Elsayed study area in 1974 and by 1990; some 191,000 study the nocturnal urban heat island of the city; vehicles are expected to use Kuala Lumpur roads. Secondary and Primary sources of data. The The “study area” refers to Kuala Lumpur and Secondary data was collected from the relatively Petaling Jaya which is relevant for this report longer records of meteorological data provided since one cannot divorce Petaling Jaya traffic by specific weather station networks, while the from Kuala Lumpur traffic system”. It also Primary data was collected through an intensive mentioned that, Kuala Lumpur population is fieldwork done with the collaboration of a growing at the rate of 7.5% per annum, one of number of assistants and field observers. The the fastest in the world (by that time), while the alternative methodologies were used for the vehicles are increasing at a growth rate of 21% collection of those primary and secondary data. per annum. There were 300,000 vehicles choking These two methods were combined and used to Kuala Lumpur roads during peak hours, 75% of study and measure the nocturnal urban heat these were private cars with 1.5 passengers per island, in air temperature, of the City of Kuala vehicle. While 40% of these were through traffic, Lumpur, Malaysia. moving from one suburb to another. Following 2.1. Measuring the Urban Heat Island through the increase in population growth was the Weather Station Networks significant increase in vehicle growth in Kuala Lumpur, by 1984, there were about 85,000 Two weather station networks cover the City of vehicles registered and this figure has increased Kuala Lumpur and its periphery; Governmental to about 514,000 vehicles in 1994. By 2004, the weather station network and another private figure has jumped to above 2,000,000 vehicles. network. According to the case study, a specific number of stations were selected to be involved The increased size of urban areas in terms of in the study. Concerning the first weather station both their population and their land consumption network, which is under Malaysian Ministry of has intensified adverse urban environmental Science and Environment and called the impacts. The 1996 Environmental Quality Report Malaysian Meteorological Services (MMS), the [10] notes that almost all aspects of the stations selected to be used are: Kuala Lumpur environment have been affected by development International Airport (KLIA), Petaling Jaya, activities. Heat island is one of the many areas of Subang, , and University Malaya. deterioration of the environment due to While for the private weather station network, development and changes due to human the stations selected are: Gombak, Shah Alam, activities. This study focus on the traffic activity Cheras, Country Height, Klang, Nilai, and Petaling as one of the most recognized activity that 2.2. Measuring the Urban Heat Island through directly linked and affected by urbanization [11]. Traverses Surveys While, climatically, one obvious consequence of urbanization is the creation of the heat island This method was used in a specific confined area [5].This study discusses and focuses on the within the study area under this study. It was relationship between the traffic activity in the used for the city center of Kuala Lumpur city and city of Kuala Lumpur and the intensity of the four major Gardens within Kuala Lumpur and its nocturnal urban heat island of the city. periphery, and that because of the lake of weather station in those areas. Within the city 2. METHODOLOGY center of the city, no weather station is located. The data relative to the traffic activity in the city The area was confined not only because of lack of of Kuala Lumpur was gathered from Malaysian data in that areas, it is moreover because of time, Governmental sources and specifically from JPJ equipments and financial constraints that faced and the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur City. While, the authors during that period and limit the area there were two major sources of data used to and number of stations used.

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` THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC ACTIVITY ON THE INTENSITY OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND Because of the difficulty of making simultaneous 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION measurements, a number of eighteen observers 3.1. Traffic Activity took measurements and readings. They are The trend of the traffic in the city of Kuala senior undergraduate students from Faculty of Lumpur is illustrated through figures 1 and 2 Architecture and Environmental Design and below which depict the total number of motor Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic vehicles registered from 1984 to 2004, and the University Malaysia. With the help of these type of motor vehicles registered in the city of observers, an intensive traverse surveys were Kuala Lumpur respectively. Figure 1 below shows carried out for measuring the air temperature, the total number of motor vehicles registered in relative humidity and air velocity during one the city of Kuala Lumpur from 1984 -2004.By week period in December 2004, starting in 20th of 1984 there were about 85,000 vehicles registered the month and end by 26th for one-hour duration in the city. This figure has increased to about per day from 21:00-22:00 Local Malaysian Time 514,000 vehicles in 1994. While in 2004, the (LMT). figure has jumped to above 2,000,000 motor The study area was divided into several sectors. vehicles. It is also important to recognize that a big proportion of the total vehicles registered in Each sector is assigned to one or two observers the city of Kuala Lumpur (Figure 2 below) are cars according to the area and complexity of sector. (about 52%), then motorcycles (34%), and buses The total number of sectors (station) is 12 and taxis together only constitute about 1.6% of sectors, four of them are parks. The city center of the total. However, this small percentage of Kuala Lumpur city is divided into 10 sectors two public transport vehicle carries about 20% of the of them are parks. Table 1 below shows these total daily trips in the city of Kuala Lumpur. stations.

others Buses

Taxis

Goods Vehicles

cars

Motorcycles

Figure 2: Types of motor vehicles registered in Kuala Lumpur for 2004

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2000000

1500000 Registered Vehicles Bars show Means 1000000

500000

0.00 1988 1992 Year 1996 2000 2004

Figure 1: Total number of motor vehicles registered in the city of Kuala Lumpur from 1984 -2004 Table 1: Stations used in the Traverses Surveys method Station No. Name of station No of observers/ sector No. Of readings 1- KLCC Two 168 2- Bukit Bentang One 126 3- Time Square One 126 4- Chow kit One 126 5- Sogo One 126 6- Central Market One 126 7- Puduraya One 126 8- Hang Tuah Two 140 9- KLCC Park Two 168 10- Main Lake Garden Two 252 11- Lake Garden Two 238 12- National Zoo Two 196 Total Total Total 12 Eighteen 1918

3.2. The Urban Heat Island KLCC stations are recognized as busiest points, in Figure 3 and 4 below illustrates the records of terms of commercial and traffic activities, located temperature at all stations during the week of within the city center of the city; moreover the 24 survey (20-26) Dec 2004. While Figure 5 shows December is the Christmas Eve. It is also the temperature for city center stations. The recognized that the highest records of temperatures recorded vary from station to temperatures for all of the days of the week is another and from day to another. Monday 20 registered at Puduraya station. December 2004 (the first working day of the Although Sunday is a non-working day in the city, week) registers the highest records of Puduraya station recorded the second temperature for all the stations excluding Cheras highest temperature during the survey during station. While, Friday 24 December 2004 registers that Sunday. In converse to Sunday is Saturday, the lowest records of temperature for most of the stations excluding Klang, Puduraya, Central which is a holiday too. The records of Market, Sogo and KLCC stations. For those temperature during Saturday for all stations excluded stations Wednesday is the day during located within the city center of the city are which the lowest temperature records are relatively low, while the records for the rest of registered. Puduraya, Central Market, Sogo and stations are of medium values.

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` THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC ACTIVITY ON THE INTENSITY OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND Table 2 below shows the hottest sector on the intensity of the UHI of the city. The Table Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday is shows that the intensity of the UHI of the city Puduraya sector. On Tuesday and in addition to increased from 4 ºC in 1985 [12] to 5.5 ºC in 2004. Puduraya sector, sector is recorded Thus, the increase in the intensity of the urban as the hottest sector. Moreover, Bukit Bintang is heat island of the city for about 20 years period the hottest sector on Wednesday and Saturday. (two decades) is one and half degree Celsius, While on Friday KLCC sector is registered as the which is a recognized value whenever human hottest record as Puduraya sector. Thus, the health and comfort are the issues. nucleus of the UHI of the city of Kuala Lumpur during five days of the week is located in 4. CONCLUSION Puduraya sector, while it is located in Bukit The study concludes that, the temperature is Bintang sector for three days of the week one of clearly varies from a work-day (weekday) to a them is shared by Puduraya sector. KLCC sector is the nucleus of the UHI for only one day of the nonworking-day (weekend) in the city. The week, but the day is shared by Puduraya sector working days are relatively hot compare to non- having similar temperature. The nucleus of the working days, while in the city center and more city of Kuala Lumpur is almost located in specifically at Puduraya station this statement is Puduraya area for the whole period of the survey. not true. At Puduraya station, even Sunday is very Therefore, it concluded that, Puduraya Sector is hot, and that because of the location of the the Nucleus of the urban heat island of the city of station. Puduraya is one of the busiest point in Kuala Lumpur for the year 2004. Nevertheless the city with very high traffic intensity; chow kit was the nucleus of the UHI of the city in furthermore, the main and largest national and the previous latest similar work done in 1985, international bus station, Puduraya Bus Station, is [12]. Although Puduraya and Chow Kit are both located within this sector. Moreover the nucleus very busy points in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Chow kit is very busy point in terms of of the UHI of the city is shifted from chow Kit area commercial activity, while Puduraya is very busy (1985) to Puduraya area (2004) that means the point in terms of both commercial and traffic nucleus coincides with the busiest point in the activities. In addition to that, Table 3 below shows city in terms of traffic activity.

Table 2: Hottest, hotter and hot sectors within the city center of the city Day of the Extremely Hot (Hottest) Very Hot (Hotter) Hot week No. of Sector T oC No. of Sector T oC No of Name of Temperature Sector Name Sector Name Sector Sector (o C) Monday 7 Puduraya 29.2 4 Chow 28.7 3 Times 28.6 Kit Square Tuesday 7 & 2 Puduraya, 28 1 KLCC 27.7 4 Chow Kit 27.4 & Bukit Bintang Wednesday 2 Bukit 27.9 1 KLCC 27.8 4 Chow Kit, 27.5 & 27.4 Bintang Puduraya Thursday 7 Puduraya 28.4 4 KLCC 28.2 1 Chow Kit 28.0 Friday 7 & 1 Puduraya 28 2 Bukit 27.5 4 Chow Kit 27.2 & KLCC Bintang Saturday 2 Bukit 28.2 1 KLCC 27.9 7 Puduraya 27.5 Bintang Sunday 7 Puduraya 28.6 2 &1 Bukit 28.3 4 Chow Kit 27.7 Bintang & KLCC

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30

29

28

27

26

25

24 Temperature in degree celsius in degree Temperature 23

22 Monday Tuseday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Name of the station KLCC Bukit Bintang Time square Chow Kit Sogo Central Market Puduraya Hang Tuah KLCC Park Lake Gardens Titiwangsa Lake Gardens National Zoo Gombak Shah Alam Cheras Country Height Klang Nilai Petaling Jaya (ASMA) Subang Petaling Jaya (MMS) KLIA TUDM Sungai Besi University Malaya

Figure 3 Temperature for all stations for one-week (20-26) December 2004

Table 3: Intensity and location of the UHI of the city of Kuala Lumpur in 1985 & 2004 Year UHI Highest Location of Lowest Location of lowest Intensity Temperature highest Temperature temperature (o C) ( o C) temperature (o C) 1985(1) 4.0 28.0 City center and 24.0 Outside the city center, in many others the fringes of KL city location bounds the city center 2004 5.5 28.6 City center, at 23.1 Outside the city center & Puduraya outside KL, at Country station Height station Source: Field work (2004), Note: (1) – Sham Sani (1990/1991) [5]

Figure 5: Temperature for city center stations for one-week (20-26) December 2004

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` THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC ACTIVITY ON THE INTENSITY OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND Furthermore, as the number of registered 5. Sham, S. “Environment and Development in vehicles in the city increased from 85,000 Malaysia: Changing Concerns and vehicles in 1984 to more than 2,000,000 vehicles Approaches”, ISIS Malaysia, 1993. by 2004, the intensity of the UHI of the city 6. Sham, S., “Urbanization and the Atmospheric increased from 4 ºC in 1985 to 5.5 ºC in Environment in the Low Tropics: Experiences 2004..Thus, the study concludes that, the higher from the Klang Valley Region, Malaysia”, the percentage of registered vehicles in the city, Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Kebangsaan the higher the intensity of the UHI of the city. Malaysia Press, 1987. Therefore the UHI of the city is directly 7. Shaharuddin, A. and Mohamed, E.Y. “Urban proportional to the number of registered climate research in Malaysia”’ International vehicles in the city. Thus study concludes that, Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) the traffic activity in the city is directly Newsletter 12: 5-10, 2005. proportional to the intensity of the UHI of the 8. Elsayed, I.S. “The effects of urbanization on city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. the intensity of the urban heat island: A case study on the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” Acknowledgement Proceedings of the 12th Annual Sustainable The authors acknowledge the financial support Development Research Conference, Hong provided by the Center for Built Environment, Kong, 2006. International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) 9. Malaysia, “Draft Structure Plan Kuala Lumpur and the students from faculty of Architecture 2020: A world class city”, Kuala Lumpur: City and Engineering (IIUM) for there kind help on Hall of Kuala Lumpur, 2000. the field work and surveys. 10. Malaysia, “Draft report of Kuala Lumpur REFERENCES master plan. Kuala Lumpur Master Plan 1982”’ Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Teknologi 1. Shahruddin, A. “Urbanization and human Malaysia, 1977. comfort in Kuala Lumpur-Petaling Jaya, 11. Kementerian, S. “Environmental Quality Malaysia”, Ilmu Alam 23: 171-189, 1997. Report”, Kuala Lumpur: Teknologi dan Alam 2. Sham, S. “Urban development and changing Sekitar, Jabatan Alam Sekitar, 1996. patterns of night-time temperatures in the 12. Mahfix, B.O. “Managing urban Kuala Lumpur – Petaling Jaya area, transportation systems in Kuala Lumpur”, Malaysia”’ Teknologi Journal. No. 5. P. 27-36, Proceedings of The regional policy seminar: 1984. Transport and communication challenges for 3. Brain, S.J. “Remote sensing analysis of urban local governments in the 21st century, residential land use, forest canopy Kuala Lumpur: City Hall of Kuala Lumpur, distribution, and surface heat island 2000. formation in Atlanta Metropolitan Region”’ 13. Sham, S. “Urban climatology in Malaysia: An USA: Atlanta. Georgia. overview”, Energy and Buildings Journal. No. 4. Institute of Technology, 2001. 15-16. P. 105-117, 1990/9.

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