IIT Kharagpur researchers develop new index linking urban heat and pollution
Kharagpur, May 22: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have developed a new scientific framework to assess the combined effects of urban heat and air pollution. This initiative is considered important for sustainable urban planning and building climate-resilient cities.
The research, titled “Integrated Index of Heat and Pollution for Sustainable Urban Planning: Evidence from Delhi,” was led by Professor Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath and V.K. Patel from the Centre for Ocean, River, Atmospheric and Land Sciences at IIT Kharagpur. The study developed a new methodology called the “Urban Human Pollution Index,” which for the first time provides a comprehensive assessment of the urban heat island effect and health risks posed by various air pollutants simultaneously.
According to a press release issued by IIT Kharagpur on Friday evening, this research was published in the Journal of Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering on April 21, 2026. The study states that until now, urban assessment systems have considered temperature and air pollution separately, whereas in reality, the combined impact of both has a more serious impact on human health and quality of life.
The researchers state that due to rapid urbanization, increasing anthropogenic emissions, and climate change, the combined impact of heat and pollution in cities is continuously increasing. This is not only increasing health risks but also posing new challenges to urban infrastructure and environmental balance. The new index provides a tool capable of comprehensive and practical assessment of these combined risks.
Using Delhi as a case study, the research found that densely populated and industrialized areas, especially central, eastern, and northwestern Delhi, had higher values of the index. This indicates higher environmental pressures and greater health risks. In contrast, the relatively greener and less densely populated areas of South and South-West Delhi showed lower index values, indicating the potential for better urban planning.
The study emphasizes the expansion of green infrastructure, sustainable transport systems, reduction of industrial and vehicular emissions, conservation of open spaces, development of urban air corridors, and adoption of climate-sensitive urban planning strategies.
The researchers caution that if urban planning is done with only temperature or only pollution in mind, the assessment of true combined risks will remain incomplete.
Given the growing global climate challenges and urban pollution, this index could prove to be a vital decision-support tool for policymakers, urban planners, public health experts, and environmental agencies. This framework can be applied to both developing and developed cities and has the potential to play a key role in building a sustainable and safe urban future.
