Urban Heat and Freshness Island Maps for Quebec 2012

Urban heat and freshness islands and surface temperature gradients mapped for Quebec distribution areas with a population density of at least 400 inhabitants per km2. This product was created by INSPQ and CERFO in 2012, financed by the Quebec Green Fund. The dataset is archived and has been replaced by more recent versions from 2013-2014 and 2020-2022.

Use Cases

• Analyze surface temperature gradients across mapped urban areas to identify heat island intensity.
• Correlate population density thresholds (>=400 inhabitants/km2) with the presence of urban heat or freshness islands.
• Use the spatial data layers (SHP, GEOTIF) to visualize the distribution of heat and freshness islands for environmental planning.
• Compare archived 2012 surface temperature data with newer versions to study temporal changes in urban microclimates.

Strengths

• Data created by authoritative organizations INSPQ and CERFO.
• Includes multiple spatial and document formats (SHP, PDF, GEOTIF, CSV, HTML) for varied analysis.
• Explicit mapping criteria based on a population density threshold of 400 inhabitants per km2.

Limitations

• Dataset is explicitly archived and replaced by newer versions, indicating it is not the current reference.
• No sample data or column details are provided, limiting understanding of the data structure.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and granular data attributes are unknown.

Provenance

Source

INSPQ and CERFO, financed by the Quebec Green Fund.

Collection Method

Mapping for distribution areas meeting a population density threshold.

Time Range

2012

Freshness

Archived 2012 data; last platform update recorded in 2026.

Geography

Quebec, specifically distribution areas with population density >= 400 inhabitants/km2.