The microclimate of cities is changing due to rapid urbanisation and climate change. This impacts the city's cooling and heating demands. A quantitative analysis of energy demand at the city scale can help us gain better understanding of the current energy demand profiles and can subsequently address the future energy need and saving potential.

This study looks into recent advancements in geospatial technologies in terms of the availability of high quality datasets that may be used as inputs for urban energy modelling. As urban areas will always be associated with high energy demand in future due to their significant energy consumption, we identify and analyse the potential of passive and active remote sensing in providing spatially and temporally detailed information for each of the energy system components. We also look forward to extensively utilise these technologies with relevance to physical and statistical energy modelling principles for the optimisation as well as prediction of energy demand for cities in India and worldwide.