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Many of the world’s megacities are concentrated in the tropical zones along the equator—primarily across the Global South. This geographic band closely aligns with the "Bean Belt" (Coffee Belt).
The current epicenter of megacity agglomeration is Southeast Asia: a region of over 770 million people experiencing rapid, relentless urbanization. To prevent the further conversion of fertile agricultural land into sprawling urban landscapes, vertical development is the only viable path forward—reimagining high-rises as vertical cities and dense urban districts.

To guide this transformation effectively, the underlying impact factors must be understood thermodynamically. Urban surface temperatures play the defining role, as they exert immense influence over the city's microclimate. Due to their scale and density, high-rise structures hold the strategic potential to actively cool these megacities and drive natural ventilation through integrated vegetation systems.

This page presents thermal images from several cities and situations, drawing particular attention to the material composition of urban surfaces and heat impacts on the urban landscape.

For further presentation or publishing, original photos in higher resolution can be ordered via email: contact@goasis.earth

Thermal imaging from Hanoi city. Especially red, green (artificial), blue and grey are the colors of materials that absorb most thermal heat, store it over the day and try to release over night.

Concrete-brick construction

05.07.2024 - 17:33 (5:33pm)

Terracotta tiles on roof top

05.07.2024 - 13:33 (1:33pm)

Vegetation with heat peak of uncovered soil 05.08.2024 - 12:39 (12:39am)

Terracotta tiles & shading by vegetation 04.08.2024 - 13:02 (1:02pm)

Metal roofing or traditional roof tiling
05.08.2024 - 12:42 (12:42am)

Corrugated sheet metal roofing
05.08.2024 - 12:40 (12:40am)

Vegetation average temperatures
06.08.2024 - 13:06 (1:06pm)

Mobil Vegetation System on roof
06.08.2024 - 17:56 (5:56pm)

Highrise cluster
07.08.2024 - 15:10 (3:10pm)

Highrise cluster
07.08.2024 - 15:12 (3:12pm)

Highrise cluster
07.08.2024 - 15:31 (3:15pm)

Highrise cluster
07.08.2024 - 15:30 (3:30pm)

Highrise cluster
07.08.2024 - 16:22 (4:22pm)

Highrise cluster
07.08.2024 - 16:23 (4:23pm)

Artificial turf (red) vs. natural grass
02.05.2025 - 12:58 (12:58am)

Artificial turf (red) vs. natural grass
02.05.2025 - 12:57 (12:57am)

Thermal imaging from Danang city. Ocean, beaches, river and mountains influence the city’s microclimate and building assets.

Aerial view of the city
14.05.2026 - 13:456 (1:56pm)

Rice fields vs. Sheet metal roofing
12.04.2026 - 12:25 (12:25am)

School with intense blue on surfaces
16.04.2026 - 15:24 (3:24pm)

Temporary metal roofing vs. tree
31.05.2026 - 08:10 (8:10am)

Heat transmission through not insulated aluminum frame
01.06.2026 - 14:59 (2:59am)

Heat transmission through exterior wall - inner wall surface releasing heat
30.05.2026 - 17:52 (5:52am)

South facing glass facade. Losing asset value due thermal overheat. AC not capable to cool while high operational cost. 31.05.2026 - 08:10 (8:10am)

Urban roof surfaces

10.04.2026 - 12:30 (12:30am)

Urban surfaces, trees in roads vs. corrugated sheet metal or traditional tiles

10.04.2026 - 12:34 (12:34am)

Urban surfaces, trees in roads vs. corrugated sheet metal or traditional tiles

10.04.2026 - 12:38 (12:38am)

Urban roof surfaces

10.04.2026 - 12:28 (12:28am)

Traffic intersection

22.08.2026 - 13:29 (1:29pm)

Traffic intersection

22.08.2026 - 13:49 (1:49pm)

HCMC

Thermal imaging from Ho Chi Minh City. Alongside a high traffic load on the infrastructure, the tall trees shade streets by its vast umbrella shape from atop while tar of the roads heats up the urban fabric.

Urban surfaces, trees in roads vs. corrugated sheet metal or traditional tiles

22.07.2026 - 13:36 (1:35pm)

Road asphalt stores solar heat and releases into the city
22.07.2026 - 13:26 (1:25pm)

Thermal camera is limited to 150 degrees celsius, mostly capturing motorbike exhaust pipes

Heated urban landscape
24.05.2026 - 13:16 (1:16pm)

Hong Kong as major logistic and finance hub in South East Asia and famous for its density of high-rise buildings. It is also a mountainous city famous for its sloppy and winding roads scattered over several islands and landscapes.

Tree shaded bench on plaza
04.08.2026 - 15:53 (3:53pm)

The city from above
05.08.2026 - 13:39 (1:39pm)

The Peak - Artificial turf moon
05.08.2026 - 13:42 (1:42pm)

Artificial turf moon with passing people 05.08.2026 - 13:41 (1:41pm)

Urban infrastructure

05.08.2026 - 15:41 (3:41pm)

Artificial rubber tiles - public gym
06.08.2026 - 10:45 (10:45am)

Concrete block surface temperature
08.08.2026 - 15:42 (3:42pm)

Bus stop and pedestrian crossing island
08.08.2026 - 11:57 (11:57am)

Shading and Cooling capacity of (old) trees
08.08.2026 - 12:00 (noon)

Roof top bar and terrace covered by artificial turf
09.08.2026 - 13:55 (1:55pm)

Roof top vegetation and natural stone path through garden
09.08.2026 - 13:51 (1:51pm)

Macau, a special economic zone and Asia's counterpart to Las Vegas, spans two islands formerly under Portuguese colonial rule. The city reveals fragments of that era alongside rapid contemporary development. Here, too, heat exerts a significant impact on comfortable urban living.

Intersection with little green
07.08.2026 - 14:54 (2:45pm)

Plaza shaded by trees
07.08.2026 - 15:09 (3:09pm)

Avenue trees and green vs. unshaded sealed areas
07.08.2026 - 15:33 (3:33pm)