The use of remote sensing data within an information support system to assess urban thermal landscape characteristics as a means for developing more robust models of the urban heat-island (UHI) effect are described. The transfer of results from the study of urban thermal heating and cooling regimes as identified from remote sensing data, to decision-makers, planners, government officials, and the public in several US cities to facilitate better understanding of how the UHI affects air quality, is outlined. Through the assessment of the spatial distribution of urban thermal landscape characteristics using remote sensing data, it is possible to develop strategies to mitigate the UHI that may reduce ozone levels and improve overall urban air quality. Cities used as foci for intensive analyses were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Sacramento, California. The remote sensing data for each of these cities has been used to generate a number of products for use by 'stakeholder' working groups to convey information on what the effects are of the UHI and what measures can be taken to mitigate them. In turn, these data products are used to both educate and inform policy-makers, planners, and the general public about the kinds of UHI mitigation strategies available.