## 1 Introduction
This structured approach enables a standardized evaluation of localized heat accumulation and its contribution to UHIs, positioning streets as key spaces for large-scale mitigation measures. Urban climate research increasingly utilizes the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification to understand spatial patterns of UHI intensity [24]. Recent studies, such as [25], have demonstrated the value of LCZs in relating Land Surface Temperature (LST) and air temperature distributions at fine spatial scales. Although this study does not explicitly apply an LCZ framework, it indirectly incorporates key morphological and environmental descriptors analogous to LCZ parameters, ensuring comparability while maintaining flexibility based on openly available raw datasets. Existing UHI assessment methods often face limitations related to data accessibility (especially atmospheric and meteorological, as well as morphological) and computational demands [7; 26]. While physical models require detailed morphological, atmospheric, and meteorological data, remote sensing methods may lack the resolution to capture localized thermal variations [27; 28]. To bridge these gaps, this study adopts a morphology-based approach, analyzing how building height, density, design, and green space distribution influence heat retention. Additionally, it incorporates moisture levels via surface water bodies and solar radiation through the Summer Climate Severity (SCS) index. The inclusion of a climate severity metric is grounded in prior efforts to quantify summer thermal stress and its effects on urban systems. One of the earliest anthropocentric indices [29] was originally developed for the northeastern United States, though its global applicability remains unverified. In Europe, a Climatic Severity Index was proposed [30] to define summer climatic zones in Italy, linking them directly to air conditioning energy demand in buildings. In a similar manner, the Spanish Building Code (CTE) introduced a classification of summer climatic zones in the Iberian Peninsula based on accumulated summer degree-days. This national-level approach provides a standardized, regulation-backed index for quantifying summer climatic severity, which serves as the foundation for the SCS used in this study. This methodological framework aligns with recent research advocating for morphology-based UHI assessments, particularly in Mediterranean contexts where compact urban structures significantly modulate temperature distributions [31; 32]. To enhance practical applicability, this work develops a custom QGIS plugin for streamlined data processing and broad usability across different urban contexts. Statistical techniques, including ANOVA and correlation analyses, reinforce the reliability of the findings. This comprehensive framework not only advances LST-based UHI research but also provides actionable insights for urban planning, supporting evidence-based strategies for mitigating UHIs in diverse climatic zones. The Iberian Peninsula was selected as the study area due to its varied climatic and urban characteristics. The findings will serve as a foundation for replicating this approach in other cities with similar geographical contexts, advancing UHI research and supporting data-driven urban policies. The remainder of this paper is structured as follows: Section 2 details the data sources, parameters, and methodology for UHI modeling. Section 3 presents statistical results and discussion. Section 4 presents model applicability across urban environments, and Section 5 summarizes key insights.