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• There are different spatial characteristics between adaptability and other two dimensions. • More than 90 % areas of LCZ1 and LCZ2 are exposed to high heat vulnerability. • Optimization methods can be applied to reduce the urban heat vulnerability from the LCZ perspective. • The optimized urban population mainly increases towards LCZ4. Global climate change presents considerable heating risks to cities, necessitating the assessment of heat vulnerability characteristics in urban areas for the advancement of human settlements and socioeconomic progress. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of extensive research regarding heat vulnerability when considering local climate zones (LCZs). In this study, we utilized data from multiple sources to construct a model for evaluating heat vulnerability along three dimensions: Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptability. We analyzed the spatial characteristics of heat vulnerability in the LCZs and employed a linear weighted multi-objective optimization method to reconfigure the LCZs and mitigate the Urban Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI). The findings revealed that (1) The spatial characteristics of exposure and sensitivity were similar, with high values observed in the city center and low values at the periphery. Adaptability exhibited a high–low–high pattern from the center to the edge due to the combined influence of the economy and natural factors. (2) The HVI of the built environment (building LCZ) surpassed that of the natural environment (natural LCZ) within the research area. Specifically, compact high-rise buildings (LCZ1) and compact midrise buildings (LCZ2) accounted for over 90% of the area with extremely high and high HVI values, necessitating immediate optimization efforts. (3) By considering the area and population size of the research area, we achieved an optimal heat vulnerability plan by increasing the areas of LCZ4 and LCZA while reducing the areas of LCZ8 and LCZ1, among others. Therefore, the overall HVI of the study area decreased from 49,034.67 to 41,772.37, representing a reduction of 14.81 %. This study presents an innovative approach to mitigating urban heat vulnerability, providing valuable planning references and scientific guidance to assist cities in addressing high-temperature risks. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the accelerated rate of urbanization, reasonable identification of urban functional zones has been increasingly important to urban development. In this study, we used OpenStreetMap and point of interest data combined with the classification standard of urban construction land, to identify the urban functional zones. In addition, Landsat 8 remote sensing images were utilized to retrieve land surface temperature, and the random forest algorithm was used to evaluate the contribution of different types of urban functional zones to the urban thermal environment. The results showed that the land surface temperature along Hunhe River in the central area of Shenyang gradually decreased. The temperature was high in the center of the experimental area and low in the north and south. Furthermore, in the main city zone of Shenyang, single functional zones accounted for 65.71% of the total study area, whereas mixed functional zones accounted for 34.29%. Among the various types of urban land, public service facility land contributed the most to the urban thermal environment with an impact of 21.65%, followed by residential, industrial, and commercial service facility lands, with impacts of 19.89%, 18.44%, and 17.58%, respectively. Additionally, the impact of road traffic land was 14.92%, whereas that of green square land was the lowest at 7.51%, 14.14% lower than that of public service facility land. [Display omitted] • Analyzes the spatial distribution heterogeneity of the surface thermal environment in the main area of Shenyang. • Analyzes the spatial structure of the main area of Shenyang based on functional zoning. • Analyzes the spatial interaction between various urban spatial activities and the surface thermal environment. • Calculates the contribution of different types of urban functions to the urban thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Land surface temperature (LST) related factors in Shenyang were studied. • LST gradually decreases from central urban area to the surrounding areas. • Significant temperature differences occur between local climate zones (LCZs). • 3-D urban space significantly impacts LCZs horizontally and vertically. • LST is always positively correlated with the floor area ratio. The local climate zone (LCZ) and land surface temperature (LST) have gained considerable attention as urbanization continues to increase. However, the study of LSTs lacks a regional complexity perspective. In order to explore the law of urban thermal environment, impact factors of LSTs are identified using GIS spatial analysis and statistical analysis methods in conjunction with parameter models that reflect urban spatial morphologies on the LCZ scale. The research results show that the LST ranges from 24.90 °C (LCZA) to 33.26 °C (LCZ2) in the summer of 2017 and from 2.53 °C (LCZ7) to 2.89 °C (LCZ3) in winter; LST ranged from 22.00 °C (LCZ2) to 28.19 °C (LCZE) in summer 2019, and from -4.79 °C (LCZ10) to -2.12 °C (LCZ3) in winter. Different LCZs had different impacts on LSTs. LST is always positively correlated with the floor area ratio, with a maximum correlation coefficient of 0.682 in LCZ2. It exhibits the highest positive correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.421) with average building height in LCZ3 and the highest negative correlation (correlation coefficient = -0.706) in LCZ7; vegetation and water bodies have a cooling effect. These results can serve as a valuable reference for building cool communities and improving the living environment of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]