Evaluating the Impact of Green Roofs on Urban Surface Temperature in Chicago’s Central Business District (August 2013 - 2024)

The research investigates the effect of green roofs on rooftop surface temperatures and overall vegetation coverage in Downtown Chicago between August 2013 and August 2024. Using satellite data and geospatial analysis tools in ArcGIS Pro, the research applies Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) analysis to assess changes in green coverage and heat conditions over time. NDVI results show a decline in total green area despite the increase in the number and distribution of green roofs. LST analysis indicates a general rise in rooftop temperatures across all building types, with green roof buildings showing slightly lower increases and narrower temperature ranges than non-vegetated rooftops. While green roofs did not significantly cool buildings, their ability to limit extreme temperature fluctuations suggests they can play a modest but stabilizing role in climate adaptation strategies.