This study measured land surface temperatures at varying distances from green spaces on the campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Temperature readings were taken at six sampling points near two green areas - under trees, at moderate and far distances. In general, temperatures increased with distance from green areas, with concrete spaces recording higher temperatures than green spaces. The findings show that trees and grass reduce land surface temperatures compared to concrete, with trees having a greater cooling effect. To reduce urban heat islands and global warming, cities should preserve and provide more forests and green spaces within their boundaries.

1. Ling OHL, and Sayed Muhammad Qusyairi SS MIP E-Bulletin 1(2): 2-4
August 2013
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Land Surface Temperature of Green Spaces and Surrounding.
Case Study: Campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam.
Oliver Ling Hoon Leh1
, and
Sayed Muhammad Qusyairi bin Sayed Shariffuddin
Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying (FSPU),
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam.
Introduction
For a town planner, green area is always treated as an essential type of land use for a human
settlement. Green area or open space is usually planned in a city (called as town park) and also in a
neighbourhood unit (called as neighbourhood park). However, the importance of a green area is
always being related to the recreational and social activities. Actually, the function of a green area is
beyond than that. It is also necessary in reducing the temperature of the micro climate of an area.
Accumulatively, by preserving more greens especially the forest in a city, the impact of urban heat
island will be reduced. Study at Bangi New Town (Shaharuddin et al., 2008) showed a lower
temperature reading (lower in urban heat island intensity) at green area or garden as compared to the
build-up area in day time. Besides, greens also required in converting carbon dioxide into valuable
oxygen for the sustainability of human lives. Previous study in Kuala Lumpur shows positive, strong
and significant relationship between green/forest area and urban air quality (Ling et al., 2010), and
positive impact of green area on air-related health condition of local residents (Ling et al., 2011).
Case Study
A study was being carried out in the campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam with
the objective to measure the variation of land surface temperature at the varying distances from two
(2) green areas (areas of study). The areas of study are Seroja College, and Academy of Language
Studies (Table 1, Aerial Photo 1, and Aerial Photo 2). The temperature was recorded for three (3)
periods of times i.e. morning (8 - 9 am), noon (12 - 1 pm), and evening (6 – 7 pm) for three (3) days.
The average reading of every period was recorded. The Thermo Anemometer was used in recording
the temperature.
Table 1: Temperature sampling points
Academy of Language Studies Seroja College
Point A Point B Point C Point D Point E Point F
Green area
(under a
shaded tree)
Moderate
distance from
the green
space
Far from the
green space
In the open
space (field)
Moderate
distance from
the open space
Far from the
open space
Note: the distance between point A and B, B and C, D and E, and E and F is approximately 50m.
1
Senior lecturer, Centre of Studies for Town & Regional Planning (CSTRP); Head, RIG on Cities & Urban
Environment (RIGCUE), Centre for Environmental Design & Management (CEDM); Registered Town Planner; PhD.
E-mail: oliverling.my@gmail.com Page: https://www.facebook.com/RIGCUE.UITM

2. Ling OHL, and Sayed Muhammad Qusyairi SS MIP E-Bulletin 1(2): 2-4
August 2013
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Aerial Photo 1: Sampling points in the Academy of Language Studies
Aerial Photo 2: Sampling points in Seroja College
Results and Findings
In general, the study (Table 2) shows the increasing of temperature as sampling points moving away
from green area. The concrete spaces (points B, C, E and F) were recorded with higher temperature
readings as compared to green spaces (point A and D). Besides, point D was recorded with higher
temperature than point A. Point A which is located under the shaded tree, meanwhile, the point D is
on the open space / field.

3. Ling OHL, and Sayed Muhammad Qusyairi SS MIP E-Bulletin 1(2): 2-4
August 2013
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Table 2: Average temperature for the six (6) sampling points
Conclusion and Recommendation
From the summary of the findings, it shows a clear effect of greens (trees and grass) in reducing the
land surface temperature of the study areas. Besides, it also shows that trees with larger surface of
leaves are more effective in reducing the temperature as compared to grass.
Thus, in order to reduce the impact of urban heat island or global warming, more forest and green area
should be preserved. Every city, town or neighbourhood unit should preserve its own forest or green
area within its own boundary. A city should not just depending on rural areas in providing resources
for the city, including preserving green area or forest for the cities. The cooling effect of greens is
better when the greens are located close to us (or within our habitat) as compared to the greens which
are located far from us. Even though, around 45% of total land area in Peninsular Malaysia is covered
with forest (FDTCP, 2010), Malaysian major cities (Klang Valley) still suffering with the impact of
urban heat island (Illyani et al., 2012). Therefore, any effort to preserve or provide green area should
be emphasized at the more localised or city level and not only at regional or national level.
References
Federal Department of Town & Country Planning (2010). Review of National Physical Plan – Final
Report.
Illyani I., Azizan A.S. & Rosmadi F. (2012). Land surface temperature and biophysical factors in
urban planning. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 68: 1792-1797.
Ling, O.H.L., Ting, K.H., Shaharuddin A., Kadaruddin A. & Yaakob M.J. (2010). Urban growth and
air quality in Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia. EnvironmentAsia 3 (2): 123-128.
Ling, O.H.L., Shaharuddin A., Kadaruddin A., Yaakob M.J. & Ting, K.H. (2011). Urban
Environmental Health: respiratory illness and urban factors in Kuala Lumpur city, Malaysia.
EnvironmentAsia 4 (1): 39-46.
Shaharuddin A., Noorazuan M.H. & Yaakob M.J. (2008). Perubahan iklim mikro dan perbandaran:
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