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In order to assess the spatial and temporal characteristics of the urban thermal environment in Zhengzhou City to supplement climate adaptation design work, based on the Landsat 8–9 OLI/TIRS C2 L2 data for 12 periods from 2019–2023, combined with the lLocal climate zone (LCZ) classification of the urban subsurface classification, in this study, we used the statistical mono-window (SMW) algorithm to invert the land surface temperature (LST) and to classify the urban heat island (UHI) effect, to analyze the differences in the spatial distribution of thermal environments in urban areas and the aggregation characteristics, and to explore the influence of LCZ landscape distribution pattern on surface temperature. The results show that the proportions of built and natural landscape types in Zhengzhou's main metropolitan area are 79.23% and 21.77%, respectively. The most common types of landscapes are wide mid-rise (LCZ 5) structures and large-ground-floor (LCZ 8) structures, which make up 21.92% and 20.04% of the study area's total area, respectively. The main urban area's heat island varies with the seasons, pooling in the urban area during the summer and peaking in the winter, with strong or extremely strong heat islands centered in the suburbs and a distribution of hot and cold spots aggregated with observable features. As building heights increase, the UHI of common built landscapes (LCZ 1–6) increases and then reduces in spring, summer, and autumn and then decreases in winter as building heights increase. Water bodies (LCZ G) and dense woods (LCZ A) have the lowest UHI effects among natural settings. Building size is no longer the primary element affecting LST as buildings become taller; instead, building connectivity and clustering take center stage. Seasonal variations, variations in LCZ types, and variations in the spatial distribution pattern of LCZ are responsible for the spatial differences in the thermal environment in the study area. In summer, urban areas should see an increase in vegetation cover, and in winter, building gaps must be appropriately increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Landscape Architecture (1673-1530) is the property of Beijing Landscape Architecture Journal Periodical Office Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban water bodies play a critical role in regulating urban climate, mitigating the urban heat island effect, and enhancing ecological environments. This study focuses on five typical heat island cities in Zhejiang Province, systematically analyzing the cooling effects of urban water bodies. Specifically, the study divides urban buffer zones into basic analytical units based on the urban road network and performs land surface temperature inversion and land use classification using the Google Earth Engine platform. Six representative morphology indicators of water bodies are selected, and the contributions of these indicators to the cooling effects of urban water bodies are evaluated using a Gradient Boosting Decision Tree regression model. Additionally, optimization strategies for water bodies in different cities are proposed. The results show the following: (1) Water bodies in central urban areas generally exhibit significant cooling effects, with the average land surface temperature reduction in water bodies exceeding 5.13 °C compared to built-up areas in all cities. (2) The average land surface temperature in urban buffer zones is generally higher than that in central urban areas, with a temperature difference of at least 0.63 °C. (3) In Huzhou and Jiaxing, the high-temperature and low-temperature zones are relatively concentrated, while in Jinhua, Quzhou, and Shaoxing, a more interspersed distribution of high-temperature and low-temperature zones is observed, reflecting a higher spatial heterogeneity. (4) Among the water body morphology indicators, the water edge density, the proportion of landscape area occupied by water patches, the largest patch index of water, and the water landscape shape index exert a relatively larger impact on cooling effects. These findings provide scientific guidance for optimizing the spatial layout of water bodies in urban buffer zones and improving urban thermal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lviv (Ukraine), a city of about 1 million inhabitants, is classified as a Western Forest-Steppe according to the forestry zonation. The mesoclimatic anomaly in the western forest-steppe with its humid mild climate is composed of the sum of microclimates formed by the thermal regime. As in every large city, Lviv has historically developed a distinctive microclimate influenced by many natural and anthropogenic factors, including global climate change, urban development, population growth, landscape fires, etc. This contributes to the development of a heat island effect, which is characterised primarily by an increase in air temperature and a decrease in air humidity and is a negative factor for the development of vegetation in the city's green zone. It was necessary to investigate the territory of the "dry island" -- the lower tier of the "heat island" -- to determine the level of vitality of the main woody plants located within these boundaries. As it could be observed, the "dry island" is located in the dense development of the central part of the city, where the temperature of the dead underlying surface (stone, asphalt, concrete) was in the range of 57-62 °C, the air temperature was 28.5-29.1 °C, and the humidity was 50.2--51.2%. Drought conditions affect the growth, development and reproductive capacity of woody plants. It has been established that the heat island should be reduced by urban greening in the horizontal and vertical ranges, and to maintain the physiological stability of tree plantations in the hot season, it is necessary to develop recommendations for the care of vegetation in the green zone of the city, depending on microclimatic indicators, especially air and soil temperatures, air and soil humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization continues to accelerate, the urban heat island effect has become an increasingly severe environmental issue globally. Urban green spaces, as an important form of green infrastructure, have significant thermodynamic effects that can effectively regulate urban temperatures, alleviate the heat island effect, and improve the urban climate. However, with the expansion of cities and the reduction of green spaces, the thermodynamic effects of these spaces have not been fully utilized, and urban thermal environment issues have become more pronounced. Therefore, researching the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces and optimizing their layout has become a crucial topic in urban environmental planning and management. Current studies primarily focus on the macroscopic evaluation of thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces through remote sensing data, meteorological monitoring, and other methods. However, these studies often neglect spatially refined analysis and fail to accurately reveal the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces at different scales and across various types. Additionally, existing methods mainly focus on single-factor impacts, lacking a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between green space thermodynamic effects and factors such as urban morphology and land use. Therefore, a refined assessment method based on GIS technology and a comprehensive analysis of influencing factors are urgently needed to improve the accuracy and applicability of evaluating the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces. This paper aims to conduct a refined assessment and layout optimization study of urban green space thermodynamic effects based on GIS technology. The research includes two main parts: first, using GIS technology to spatially represent the thermodynamic effects of urban green spaces, with detailed analysis through indicators such as thermodynamic effect footprints, effect capacity, and effect centers; second, combining GIS technology to perform a correlation analysis of the main influencing factors of urban green space thermodynamic effects and propose optimization strategies for green space layout based on effect evaluation. This study will provide a theoretical basis for urban green space planning and optimization and offer data support for mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving urban environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveRapid urbanization has encroached on large ecological spaces, causing ecological issues like biodiversity loss, heat island effect, and flooding. To address this, ecological networks composed of source sites, corridors, and stepping-stone patches are proposed to restore landscape connectivity and integrity, thereby ensuring ecological security. However, these networks have primarily focused on biodiversity conservation, neglecting other benefits to humans. This research, therefore, constructs a multifunctional ecological network in Wuhan by combining a biomigration network and a regional cooling network. This network is used to identify key areas for ecological restoration and protection, with a view to offering a reference for landscape conservation.MethodsIn this research, the construction and optimization of the multifunctional network are divided into four steps. 1) Identification of two types of source patches. Based on the land cover and land surface temperature (LST) of Wuhan urban agglomeration, the research screens the biodiversity source sites and regional cold island source sites by morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity. 2) Construction of two types of resistance surfaces. Based on land use type, elevation, slope, distance from road, distance from construction land, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and other data, the resistance values of biomigration and cold island diffusion are calculated respectively, and raster resistance surfaces are generated in ArcGIS. 3) Based on minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) and circuit theory, biomigration corridors and regional cooling corridors are generated respectively by using the Linkage Mapper toolbox. 4) Two kinds of corridors are overlapped to form a multifunctional ecological network pattern, based on which the key areas for ecological protection and restoration are identified in Wuhan urban agglomeration.ResultsIn this research, Wuhan urban agglomeration is taken as the research area. Based on land cover data, satellite remote sensing data and other sources of data, and by integrating the methods of MSPA, landscape connectivity analysis and surface temperature inversion, 22 biodiversity and 27 regional cooling sources are identified, both of which are distributed in the northeastern and southern parts of the research area. Based on the MCR model and circuit theory, the multifunctional ecological network pattern of Wuhan urban agglomeration is constructed with the help of Linkage Mapper toolbox, including 44 biomigration corridors and 51 regional cooling corridors. Finally, by identifying the intersections, pinch points and obstacle points of the dual networks, the key areas for ecological restoration and protection of national land space under the perspective of multifunctional ecological network are located, including 7 intersections of the dual networks (biomigration network and regional cooling network), 85.4 km2 of pinch points and 724.9 km2 of obstacle points in the biomigration network, and 50.1 km2 of pinch points and 926.6 km2 of obstacle points in the regional cooling network.ConclusionAiming to further enhance human well-being through ecological network, this research integrates the biomigration network and the regional cooling network into a cohesive multifunctional ecological network framework. This integrated network sustains the regular functioning of diverse ecological processes by interlinking the supply sources of various ecological functions, thereby amplifying the protective benefits of species habitats across urban and rural landscapes and augmenting the thermal comfort of human settlements. Additionally, the overlay of the two types of ecological corridors respectively corresponding to the aforesaid two networks substantially enhances the overall connectivity and stability of the ecological network pattern. In conclusion, this research proposes a strategic planning approach for ecological conservation and restoration, aimed at fostering the connectivity of a complex functional ecological network. This strategy encompasses the protection of existing ecological sources, the cultivation of potential sources, the restoration of impediments within the dual networks, and the safeguarding of critical pinch points and intersections. The findings of this research hold significant implications for the ecological security and sustainable development of Wuhan urban agglomeration, offering a reference for the construction of large-scale multifunctional ecological networks.

Urban heat islands, exacerbated by climate change, have become a pressing issue as summer temperatures rise. This study uses data mining techniques to classify the thermal impact of tree shade on building façades in the urban area of a tropical city. Our objective was to develop models to assist stakeholders and policymakers in forecasting the thermal impact of solar orientation and tree shade on building façades in the urban areas of a tropical city. Minimum and maximum infrared surface temperatures were registered in health clinics' façades in Teresina, Brazil. Random forest methodology was applied to develop classifying models. This technique, known for its robust classification and prediction of categorical variables, offers a significant advantage over other modeling methods. Key input variables included façade infrared surface temperature, solar orientation, environmental temperature, relative humidity, and the extent of tree shade. Critical attributes were identified as solar orientation (North, South, East, and West), tree shade, and façade temperature (maximum and minimum). Two tree-ensemble models were selected for an accuracy rate of 88% and Kappa (κ) = 0.86. The models indicate that tree-ensemble methods can accurately classify and predict the thermal impact of tree shade on building façades. Additionally, the method effectively identified and ranked the factors influencing thermal impact, providing users with reliable predictive capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, the rapid urbanization process has led to increasingly severe urban heat island effects and other urban thermal environment issues, posing significant challenges to urban planning and environmental management. This study focuses on Zhengzhou, China, utilizing Landsat remote sensing imagery data from five key years between 2000 and 2020. By applying atmospheric correction methods, we accurately retrieved the land surface temperature (LST). The study employed a gravity center migration model to track the spatial changes of heat island patches and used the geographical detector method to quantitatively analyze the combined impact of surface characteristics, meteorological conditions, and socio-economic factors on the urban heat island effect. Results show that the LST in Zhengzhou exhibits a fluctuating growth trend, closely related to the expansion of built-up areas and urban planning. High-temperature zones are mainly concentrated in built-up areas, while low-temperature zones are primarily found in areas covered by water bodies and vegetation. Notably, the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are the two most significant factors influencing the spatial distribution of land surface temperature, with explanatory power reaching 42.7% and 41.3%, respectively. As urban development enters a stable stage, government environmental management measures have played a positive role in mitigating the urban heat island effect. This study not only provides a scientific basis for understanding the spatiotemporal changes in land surface temperature in Zhengzhou but also offers new technical support for urban planning and management, helping to alleviate the urban heat island effect and improve the living environment quality for urban residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urban Geology is the property of Urban Geology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this study is to elucidate the principal determinants influencing the thermal comfort of campus sidewalks, and to discern the nexus between sidewalk planting configurations and thermal comfort. Initially, thermal environment simulations are conducted across various temporal intervals, predicated upon the extant sidewalk planting configuration. Subsequently, an analysis is undertaken to delineate the causative factors contributing to suboptimal thermal comfort within the prevailing milieu. Finally, an evaluation of configurations conducive to enhancing campus thermal comfort through divergent planting design solutions is undertaken, thereby engendering discourse on sidewalk planting design. The findings show that impermeable pavement, encompassing sidewalks and driveways, emerges as the pre-eminent precipitant of diminished thermal comfort within the study locale. The implementation of a double-row staggered tree-planting approach, coupled with multi-layered shrub planting, emerges as the optimal solution for augmenting thermal comfort. Consequently, the outcomes of this study proffer discernibly superior alternatives for ameliorating the heat island effect and fostering the establishment of a sustainable campus paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this scholarly investigation is to elucidate the intricate interplay between the urban heat island (UHI) effect and municipal green spaces. The geographical focus includes the four areas with the highest urbanization rate in Shijiazhuang, China. To conduct this survey, ECOSTRESS remote sensing imagery was acquired during distinct temporal intervals–morning, midday, and evening. The data were collected using the equal-scale city blocks performed by the OpenStreetMap urban network and ECOSTRESS remote sensing images at different times (morning, noon and evening). Surface temperature inversion of satellite images was performed using ArcGIS 10.7 software to obtain surface temperature. The overarching aim was to discern the nuanced impact of urban parks on the surface temperatures of their proximate environs during the summer season. The findings of this investigation revealed that, in order to effectively ameliorate the discernible heat island effect (SUH), rejuvenation initiatives ought to be directed toward sites maintaining a distance from green spaces within the range of 160 to 370 meters. Furthermore, augmentation of green space configurations is recommended in vicinities characterized by building densities falling within the range of 0.2 to 0.3. Notably, in locales marked by high building density, park layouts should adhere to a more regularized design during the renovation process. Additionally, it is advisable to ensure that the spatial separation between distinct urban parks exceeds 900 meters. These empirical insights are poised to enhance the comprehension of urban planners regarding the intricate dynamics through which urban parks exert influence on municipal surface temperatures. Furthermore, the discerned patterns furnish pragmatic guidance for mitigating the heat island effect, thereby offering invaluable recommendations for urban planning endeavors.

Aim: Global‐scale studies are necessary to draw general conclusions on how trophic interactions vary with urbanization and to explore how the effects of urbanization change along latitudinal gradients. We predict that the intensity of trophic interactions decreases in response to urbanization (quantified by human population density). Since trophic interactions are more intense at lower latitudes, we also expect major impacts of urbanization at higher latitudes, where base levels are essentially lower. Location: Global (881 study sites). Time period: 2000–2021. Major taxa studied: Birds, arthropods and woody plants. Methods: We compiled global data on insect herbivory and bird predation from studies that employed similar methods and fitted generalized linear mixed models to test how these trophic interactions vary with human population density, latitude and their interactions. Results: The intensity of herbivory and predation decreased with an increase in human population density at lower latitudes. Surprisingly, it remained unaffected at intermediate latitudes and even increased at higher latitudes. Main conclusions: The observed patterns may be attributed to local climate changes in urban areas, such as the Urban Heat Island effect, which disrupts thermal stability in the tropics while increasing niche availability at polar latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has caused increasingly severe heat island effect in cites, which also has worsened air quality in the urban areas due to a combination of factors. To reduce the impacts, several studies have proposed strategies based on different planning and design principles. Although some strategies were found to be useful for mitigating air pollution or urban heat island, the simultaneous effects were rarely discussed in the past studies. Therefore, this research tries to develop a framework that is able to evaluate the relative benefits of different mitigation methods on both urban heat island and air pollution, using a scenario-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling method. Six scenarios of different strategies were comprehensively evaluated and compared. It is found that pavement materials and rooftop greening showed more significant effects on reducing the heat island temperature and air pollutant concentration than that of changes in building volumes and water bodies in the study area. In addition, there are differences in mitigation effects on the two impacts, suggesting that careful comparative analysis should always be done before implementing the strategies. The proposed method could be very useful in the process of developing coping strategies for both heat island effect and air pollution in the urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous improvement of urbanization level and the increasing urban spatial density, the urban heat island effect is intensifying, resulting in the increasing range and intensity of extreme climate, which poses a threat to the physical and mental health of urban residents. Urban heat island effect has become a focus of multidisciplinary research. The technical development of existing methods for studying heat island effect at different scales was reviewed, their advantages and disadvantages, and their applicability at different scales were analyzed. In addition, the influence factors of heat island effect on street and valley scale were analyzed. Finally, according to the existing problems in the current research process, the research progress and development trend of urban heat island at street valley scale were proposed from the aspects of data and evaluation methods. The research results provide a reference for the in-depth study of urban street valley heat island effect under the background of compact city development model, and to provide an effective way to mitigate urban heat island effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pavement photovoltaic (PV) is an innovative energy-harvesting technology that seamlessly integrates into road surfaces, merging established PV power generation methods with conventional roadway infrastructure. This fusion optimally utilizes the extensive spatial assets inherent in road networks. This paper offers an exhaustive examination of the literature concerning the physical models and performance evaluation of photovoltaic pavements. This study delineates the essential three-tier structure of pavement modules and juxtaposes the advantages and drawbacks of design models across these strata, thereby facilitating the development of more suitable solutions for varying application scenarios. The importance of accommodating fluctuations in shadows and countering the heat island effect (HIE) is emphasized. Nevertheless, the technology remains in its nascent research phase, characterized by challenges associated with limited long-term durability and efficacy. Building upon these findings, this study addresses the challenges confronting pavement PV from three perspectives and outlines future prospects and recommendations for its progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the accelerated development of urbanization and industrialization, the scope of cities continues to expand. However, natural landscape such as vegetation and water in the city has been transformed into artificial impervious water. This has aggravated urban heat island effect and caused serious damage to the urban ecological environment. To explore the relevant factors that affect urban heat island effect, this study selects Tianjin, which has a high level of urbanization and a significant heat island effect, as the study area. Land satellite remote sensing images from 2013, 2018, and 2022 were selected for data acquisition. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of urban surface parameters changes. The selected urban surface parameters for this study include vegetation index, water body index, impermeable surface index, and surface temperature index. The heat island area will increase over time. In 2013, 2018, and 2022, the proportion of this area to the total area was 41.92%, 48.73%, and 49.16%, respectively. In 2022, the proportion of different regions in total area ranges from 40.21% to 54.22%. At this time, the heat island area of Dongli District is the largest and that of Jinnan District is the smallest. Surface temperature is negatively correlated with vegetation and water bodies, and positively correlated with impermeable water surfaces. Between 2013 and 2022, over 90% of impermeable water surfaces belonged to heat island area, over 80% of vegetation belonged to green island area, and over 97% of water bodies belonged to green island area. In conclusion, the method proposed in the study can well analyze urban heat island effect and urban surface parameters change’s connection. This provides solid scientific data support for alleviating the heat island effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal landscapes are crucial for the study of the urban heat island phenomena because they allow for the analysis of the spatial and temporal patterns of urban thermal environments using methods and theories from landscape ecology. Recent research has primarily examined the effects of land surface composition and landscape pattern on heat islands, neglecting to examine the thermal landscape's connectivity from a holistic standpoint. We have opted to examine the spatial and temporal development of thermal landscape connectivity on a regional scale in this article. In view of this, the spatial pattern of heat islands in 2030 was predicted using artificial neural network and Cellular Automaton and Markov (ANN-CA-Markov) model based on the heat island evolution characteristics from 2014 to 2022 in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, China. The structural characteristics of heat islands were analyzed utilizing the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis model, and thermal landscape connectivity was quantified using Conefor 2.6 software, and its spatial and temporal evolution patterns were analyzed. The analysis showed that, first, the ANN-CA-Markov model simulated a KAPPA coefficient of 0.78, which has a high degree of accuracy and can simulate the distribution of thermal landscapes during various time periods. Second, analysis of heat island connection trends showed that connectivity expanded quicker between 2014 and 2022 than between 2022 and 2030. Although the largest patches were also the most connected, areas with a concentrated distribution of small patches also produced patches with extremely high connectivity metrics and are likely to develop into larger, more threatening patches. This study can quantify the importance of heat islands based on thermal landscape connectivity metrics and identify clusters of important patches, which are important for mitigating and preventing the worsening of the heat island effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal environment deterioration has seriously threatened urban habitat quality and urban sustainable development. The evolution of the urban built environment (UBE) is an important cause for urban thermal environment variation. However, the dynamic effect of the UBE on the land surface temperature (LST) is rarely studied by combining the local climate zone (LCZ) theory and spatio-temporal heterogeneity. Based on a case study of Beilin District in Xi'an, China, this paper identified LCZ types of Beilin District in 2010, 2015, and 2020 using the GIS method. It also analyzed the spatial–temporal characteristics of the LST in summer based on the remote sensing retrieval method and explored the effects of the built environment on the LST by Geodetector and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The results showed the following: (1) The area share of dense building zones in Beilin District was greater than that of open building zones and natural surface zones, while the share of mid- and high-rise dense building zones continued to increase and the share of low-rise dense building zones continued to decrease during the study period. (2) The LST of different LCZ types in Beilin District was obviously different, and the LST of dense building zones was generally higher than that of open building zones and natural surface zones. Meanwhile, the LST of mid- and low-rise dense building zones increased gradually, and the LST of high-rise open building zones decreased gradually, but the overall warming area was obviously more than the cooling area. (3) The effects of the UBE factors on the LST varied greatly, with their interaction having an enhancement effect. The direct and interactive influence of the two-dimensional (2D) UBE indicators on the LST were greater than those of the three-dimensional (3D) indicators, but there was a gradual decrease in the force of the 2D indicators and a simultaneous diminution, enhancement, and invariance of the force of the 3D indicators. (4) Vegetation cover (VC) and floor area ratio (FAR) acted negatively, and the building height (BH) was changing from a positive to a negative role, with the average action intensity of VC changing from −0.27 to −0.15, FAR from −0.20 to −0.16, and BH from 0.05 to −0.04. The impervious surface area (ISA), building area (BA), and space congestion (SC) acted positively, with the average action intensity of the ISA changing from 0.12 to 0.20, BA from 0.12 to 0.19, and SC was stable at 0.04. The framework enables a deeper portrayal of LST changes in different LCZs, reflecting the direct and interactive effects of different UBE indicators on LST, as well as local variations in the impact effects and provides a basis for urban managers or planners to improve urban heat resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, urban regions are experiencing prolonged heat exposure due to climate change and increased population expansion. Physiological, psychological and behavioural measures improve residents' thermal comfort to solve the overheating issues generated by the scenario. However, adaptive strategies have not been clearly categorized based on the building construction process. This paper systematically reviews 101 documents published from 2013 to 2023, across 22 countries, with a focus on Nigeria. Using descriptive statistics and content analysis, we identify and categorize 52 adaptive strategies into four groups: urban design, effective building design, insulation, and occupants' behaviour. These strategies are further classified according to their application in the building process stages: pre-design, design, construction, and post-construction. The study provides a full response to overheating in the building sector with efforts to reduce energy consumption rate and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings of the study contribute, significantly to improvement in occupants' health care and well-being, as well as high productivity levels and socioeconomic benefits. Future research is therefore recommended in the efficiency of its implementation to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions in the construction industry towards sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to elucidate the principal determinants influencing the thermal comfort of campus sidewalks, and to discern the nexus between sidewalk planting configurations and thermal comfort. Initially, thermal environment simulations are conducted across various temporal intervals, predicated upon the extant sidewalk planting configuration. Subsequently, an analysis is undertaken to delineate the causative factors contributing to suboptimal thermal comfort within the prevailing milieu. Finally, an evaluation of configurations conducive to enhancing campus thermal comfort through divergent planting design solutions is undertaken, thereby engendering discourse on sidewalk planting design. The findings show that impermeable pavement, encompassing sidewalks and driveways, emerges as the pre-eminent precipitant of diminished thermal comfort within the study locale. The implementation of a double-row staggered tree-planting approach, coupled with multi-layered shrub planting, emerges as the optimal solution for augmenting thermal comfort. Consequently, the outcomes of this study proffer discernibly superior alternatives for ameliorating the heat island effect and fostering the establishment of a sustainable campus paradigm.

In recent years, with economic development, urbanization has been accelerating. In the past 100 years, the global average temperature has increased by 0.5°C, and according to the predictions of most global climate models, the temperature will continue to increase by 1.5°C to 3.0°C in the next 100 years. Under the influence of global warming, the urban heat island effect problem is becoming more and more serious, bringing much harm. Studying the thermal effect and its influencing factors is of great significance for sustainable urban development. In this study, the seasonal and interannual surface temperature changes of the study area are inverted based on the SW-TES algorithm, and the LST inversion of the algorithm is simply verified. At the same time, a cell dichotomous model was established to explore the influencing factors of the urban heat island effect and the influence of different land use types and normalized vegetation indices in the Hangzhou metropolitan area was analyzed. The results showed that the overall heating trend of the study area showed a heating trend, the expansion rate of regional construction land was relatively fast, and the scale of urban land was increasing. Based on the results of surface temperature changes of areas with different land types, we obtained the temperature trends of each land type [from 2005 to 2018] and found that there was a negative correlation between surface temperature and normalized vegetation index. This study provides a theoretical basis to evaluate the urban heat island effect and analyze factors that impact it and would promote sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of urbanization, urban heat waves have become a major problem affecting the lives of citizens. In this context, the accurate identification of the key patches and nodes of urban heat islands is important for improving the urban environment. This study examined the Landsat image data from Xiamen city in 2001, 2011, and 2021 to analyze the construction of the urban heat island (UHI) network. A morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity model were utilized to identify the central thermal landscape patches and key nodes of UHI and their spatial and temporal evolution characteristics in the urban development process. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide valuable insights that can contribute to the enhancement of the urban environment. The results showed that (1) there was a significant increase in the heat island area (HIA) of Xiamen from 2001 to 2021, and the heat island patches show a concentrated trend. The temperature contrast between the urban area and the surrounding countryside was more distinct, indicating the urban construction land has a tendency to gather and spread. (2) The core area of the heat island accounted for the largest proportion of the thermal landscape area during the study period, and its proportion increased significantly. And the rate of increase was first rapid and then slow. The areas of the edge, branch, islet, bridge, loop, and perforation classes all showed different degrees of a decreasing trend. This indicates an increasing degree of aggregation between heat island patches. (3) The top 20 thermal landscape patches with high landscape connectivity importance values were identified. Among them, the importance value and area of the first four patches are relatively large, and belong to the three importance classes of extremely important, important, and generally important heat island core patches, which deserve focused attention and optimization. (4) Cooling measures can be prioritized for core areas of heat islands with high importance values. Connections between hot and cold islands can be interrupted or connected to mitigate the heat island effect throughout the region. The results of this study have important practical guidance for urban planning and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat islands (UHIs) caused by urbanization have become a major issue affecting the sustainable development of the ecological environment. The distribution of UHIs is mainly affected by the reflection and transmission of heat radiation caused by differences in urban spaces, and the anthropogenic heat emissions caused by social activities. At present, the research on the urban thermal environment involves two spatial classification systems: local climate zone (LCZ), based on urban morphology and spatial patterns; and urban functional zone (UFZ), based on socio-economic activities. It is not clear whether there are association rules between these two systems in different cities. Against this background, this study explores the association rules between the UFZ and LCZ classification systems using the selected Chinese cities in different regions as typical examples. Our results confirm that there are common association rules from UFZ to LCZ, as the form of buildings is greatly influenced by the types of functional areas in urban construction. Specifically, the medical zone corresponds to the compact mid-rise zone (LCZ2); the business service area and the office area also correspond to the compact zone (LCZ1-LCZ3); and the industrial area corresponds to the compact low-rise zone (LCZ3). These functional zones have the same association rules in different cities. The cross-regional mining of the relationship between different urban functional systems will help to coordinate different planning departments and carry out the integration of multiple spatial plans. Furthermore, we found that LCZ has a better differentiation effect on the surface temperature through our comparison research, which makes it more suitable as a reference for research on the thermal environment and the heat island effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, urban regions are experiencing prolonged heat exposure due to climate change and increased population expansion. Physiological, psychological and behavioural measures improve residents’ thermal comfort to solve the overheating issues generated by the scenario. However, adaptive strategies have not been clearly categorized based on the building construction process. This paper systematically reviews 101 documents published from 2013 to 2023, across 22 countries, with a focus on Nigeria. Using descriptive statistics and content analysis, we identify and categorize 52 adaptive strategies into four groups: urban design, effective building design, insulation, and occupants’ behaviour. These strategies are further classified according to their application in the building process stages: pre-design, design, construction, and post-construction. The study provides a full response to overheating in the building sector with efforts to reduce energy consumption rate and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings of the study contribute, significantly to improvement in occupants’ health care and well-being, as well as high productivity levels and socioeconomic benefits. Future research is therefore recommended in the efficiency of its implementation to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions in the construction industry towards sustainable urban development.

Many studies on mitigation of the surface urban heat island (SUHI) are conducted from the perspective of landscape patch allocation, and few studies have investigated the overall impact of network connectivity on SUHI. In this study, an ecological network framework is proposed to identify the key patches and cooling corridors. Based on surface temperature inversion data, morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity indexes are used to identify heat island and cold island patches with high ecological value on which to construct the network. The innovative patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model is introduced to construct a resistance surface, and Circuit theory (CT) is used to connect cold islands and heat islands in cooling corridors. The results show that from 1999 to 2019, land surface temperature (LST) increased significantly in the city of Haikou, the extreme LST became more and more significant, and the area with the highest temperatures showed a southward trend. The connectivity between cold and heat island patches declined, and the Loop, Bridge and Branch areas in heat islands increased. The latter scenario is conducive to the construction of cooling corridors. The land cover index had a great influence on SUHI, and the resistance surface presented a distribution pattern with high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast, which is consistent with the distribution of LST. Finally, we extracted the resultant cold-heat island cooling network, which was mainly concentrated along the southern edge of the study area, and found that corridor construction faced fewer obstacles in 2019 than in 1999. This study can guide urban planners to reinforce the parts of ecological networks that will mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Climate change and rapid urbanization have jointly altered the climate characteristics of cities, including rainfall, humidity, and temperature, and have resulted in an increase of extreme precipitation. In this study, to identify the hydrothermal driving factors responsible for extreme precipitation in urban areas, sensitivity experiments were carried out on two extreme precipitation events in Shanghai, China, using the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model coupled with the artificial water dissipation urban canopy model (AWDUCM). The simulation results from the WRF model and observations from 35 weather stations across Shanghai were compared. The results showed that WRF could simulate the spatial distribution and precipitation intensity of extreme rainfall more accurately when integrated with the AWDUCM. With the AWDUCM incorporated, the root‐mean‐square errors of the two simulated precipitation events were 9.1 and 9.9 mm respectively (accounting for approximately 20% of the total rainfall). The near‐surface temperature and specific humidity in the AWDUCM simulation were approximately 0.5°C and 1 g·kg−1 higher than in the NON simulation (that did not invoke the AWDUCM) respectively. Urbanization factors increase the near‐surface temperature and specific humidity in urban and built‐up land, and the results of this study indicate that these are two of the driving forces affecting precipitation. Increased water vapor and urban heat island effects caused by urbanization are enhancing the intensity of extreme precipitation in Shanghai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Urban Heat Island (UHI), caused by the increase in impermeable surfaces, high urban density, and lack of shade, is a common phenomenon that could end intensified by climate changes, especially in warmhumid climates. This research evaluated the use of urban arborization as a mitigation strategy for the heat island effect in the public spaces of Barranquilla, Colombia. The “Carrera 44” avenue was selected as the study area due to its high solar radiation exposure. Computational simulations were performed to assess the operative temperature with different options for tree shadow in 2020 and 2050. The results display the percentage of UHI mitigation for each proposed situation. It is estimated that the findings from this study can serve as guidelines for designing public spaces in the Colombian Caribbean region.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate data used for dynamic energy simulation of buildings located in urban regions are usually collected in meteorological stations situated in rural areas, which do not accurately represent the urban microclimate (e.g., urban heat island effect), and this might affect the simulation accuracy. This paper aims at quantitatively evaluating the effects of heat island on a high-rise building's energy performance based on the microclimate simulation tool ENVI-met and the building energy simulation tool COMFIE. However, the computation of microclimate models is time consuming; it is not possible to simulate every day of a year in a reasonable time. This paper proposes a method that generates hourly "site-specific climate data" to avoid long microclimate simulation times. A coupling method of ENVI-met and COMFIE was developed for more precise building energy simulation, accounting for the heat island effect. It was applied to a high-rise building in Wuhan, China. The results showed that the yearly average urban heat island effect intensity at the height of 3 m was estimated to be 0.55 °C and decreased with height. Compared to the simulation considering the outdoor temperature variation with the height and orientation, using the original climate data collected in rural areas led to an overestimation of the heating load by around 5.8% and an underestimation of the cooling load by around 8.7%. Compared to the weather file at the height of 3 m near the north facade neglecting the temperature variation along the height, the heating load was overestimated by 8.2% and the cooling load was underestimated by 10.8%. The methods proposed in this paper can be used for the more precise application of urban building energy simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island effect caused by rapid urbanization has had a great impact on human health and ecological environment. The evolution of landscape patterns often affects regional thermal characteristics at the local scale. How to rationally allocate land cover types from the perspective of urban planning is a huge challenge. This paper takes Nanjing, a typical "stove city" in China, as an example to study the impact of landscape pattern changes on the urban thermal environment. Firstly, based on the "source" landscape "/sink" landscape identified by the "source-sink" landscape index, on this basis, the contributions of the "source-sink" landscape and its effects are calculated, and the temporal and spatial evolution laws are analyzed. Second, we study the cooling effect of different characteristic landscapes. The results show that the change of landscape pattern is closely related to the urban thermal environment, and the expansion of built-up areas is the main reason for the urban thermal environment. With the development of urbanization, the "source-sink" landscape structure in most districts and counties has aggravated the heat island effect, and the ratios of "sink" and "source" landscape contribution ratios with strong levels are concentrated in the suburban areas. The results of cooling efficiency research show that the cooling range of forest land is larger than that of water bodies. At the same time, we found that the cooling efficiency of the sink landscape is the highest when the area of the sink landscape is 0.18–0.9 hm2 and the shape index is between 1 and 4. The research results can provide feasible and practical scientific suggestions for the planning and ecological construction of Nanjing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Explored the spatiotemporal pattern of urban green spaces in mitigating heat islands. • Coupling coordination between urban green space and urban temperature are measured. • Densification in coordination coupling degree showed a global negative correlation. • Compared the impacts of multiple factors on green space quality. Growing evidence highlights a strong link between urban densification and urban heat island (UHI) effects. However, there is a lack of research on time-based analyses of urban green space spatial patterns using urban densification indices to mitigate UHI effects. Addressing this gap, this study focuses on the central district of Xi'an, utilizing urban density data, MODIS LST products, and Landsat series imagery. The Coordination Coupling Degree Model (CCDM) is applied to longitudinally assess the mitigating effects of urban green space spatial patterns on UHI under different scales of spatial densification. The CCDM results show a significant overall improvement in the coordination coupling degree between green space spatial indices and LST in Xi'an's central district from 2013 to 2023. However, variations across administrative districts suggest that regional planning policies have differentially influenced green space patterns and UHI effects over time. Furthermore, a global negative correlation between the urban densification index and changes in the coordination coupling degree indicates that continued urbanization in Xi'an's central district could exacerbate the urban thermal environment. This study provides valuable insights into green space planning and UHI mitigation strategies in the context of urban densification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the nexus between urban economic resilience and the heat island effect in China. It also scrutinizes the potential mediating role of digital technology and the moderating effects of talent gathering and regional advantage, based on panel data from three metropolitan regions in China for the period 2006–2022. Its findings indicate that urban economic resilience significantly mitigates the heat island effect, digital technology mediates this relationship, and the moderators talent gathering and regional advantage significantly influence this relationship. Additionally, the spatial spillover effects of urban economic resilience on the heat island effect were found to be positive in these regions. Based on the empirical findings, this study offers valuable insights for policymaking, namely, that resilient urban economies are better equipped to adapt to climate change and environmental challenges, which enables them to implement effective mitigation measures for the heat island effect and influence broader regional climate dynamics. • Urban economic resilience could effectively mitigate heat island effect. • Three metropolitan provinces in China observed from 2006 to 2022. • Digital technology mediates the urban economic resilience-heat island effect nexus. • Talent gathering and regional advantage moderate the digital technology-heat island effect nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal environment deterioration has seriously threatened urban habitat quality and urban sustainable development. The evolution of the urban built environment (UBE) is an important cause for urban thermal environment variation. However, the dynamic effect of the UBE on the land surface temperature (LST) is rarely studied by combining the local climate zone (LCZ) theory and spatio-temporal heterogeneity. Based on a case study of Beilin District in Xi’an, China, this paper identified LCZ types of Beilin District in 2010, 2015, and 2020 using the GIS method. It also analyzed the spatial–temporal characteristics of the LST in summer based on the remote sensing retrieval method and explored the effects of the built environment on the LST by Geodetector and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The results showed the following: (1) The area share of dense building zones in Beilin District was greater than that of open building zones and natural surface zones, while the share of mid- and high-rise dense building zones continued to increase and the share of low-rise dense building zones continued to decrease during the study period. (2) The LST of different LCZ types in Beilin District was obviously different, and the LST of dense building zones was generally higher than that of open building zones and natural surface zones. Meanwhile, the LST of mid- and low-rise dense building zones increased gradually, and the LST of high-rise open building zones decreased gradually, but the overall warming area was obviously more than the cooling area. (3) The effects of the UBE factors on the LST varied greatly, with their interaction having an enhancement effect. The direct and interactive influence of the two-dimensional (2D) UBE indicators on the LST were greater than those of the three-dimensional (3D) indicators, but there was a gradual decrease in the force of the 2D indicators and a simultaneous diminution, enhancement, and invariance of the force of the 3D indicators. (4) Vegetation cover (VC) and floor area ratio (FAR) acted negatively, and the building height (BH) was changing from a positive to a negative role, with the average action intensity of VC changing from −0.27 to −0.15, FAR from −0.20 to −0.16, and BH from 0.05 to −0.04. The impervious surface area (ISA), building area (BA), and space congestion (SC) acted positively, with the average action intensity of the ISA changing from 0.12 to 0.20, BA from 0.12 to 0.19, and SC was stable at 0.04. The framework enables a deeper portrayal of LST changes in different LCZs, reflecting the direct and interactive effects of different UBE indicators on LST, as well as local variations in the impact effects and provides a basis for urban managers or planners to improve urban heat resilience.

It is of great significance to determine the level of demand for thermal environment regulation and the availability of blue–green spaces for thermal environment regulation to alleviate the effects of urban heat islands. Taking Shandong Province, China, as the study area, combined multi–source remote sensing data are used in this study to construct the index system of cold island supply capacity (CIS) and the cold island demand level (CID). We use the methods of spatial regression, quadrant division, and coupling coordination degree to analyze the correlation, matching status, and the level of coordinated development between the supply capacity and demand for the cooling effect. We also explore the change law and spatial characteristics of the blue–green spaces' cooling effects supply and demand matching. Results show that: (1) The CIS and the CID are significantly negatively correlated and spatially heterogeneous in distribution, with a significant spatial spillover effect. (2) The dominant type of supply and demand is one of low supply and high demand, which means that the supply and demand for cool islands' cooling effect are unbalanced, with significant problems of spatial mismatch and quantitative imbalance. (3) The coupling between supply capacity and demand level is on the verge of becoming dysfunctional because the uneven distribution of urban buildings, population, and blue–green spaces reduce the coupling between supply and demand levels. This research can provide a new perspective and scientific basis for the study of the cooling effects of blue and green spaces and the mitigation of the heat island effect in densely populated urban centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the ability of the new urban forest park to alleviate the urban heat island effect in the capital core area, Guangyanggu Urban Forest Park in Xicheng District, Beijing was taken as the research object, the surface temperature retrievals of that and its surrounding areas in 2014, 2017 and 2019 were completed based on remote sensing(RS) and geographic information system (GIS), in the meantime, temperature and humidity were measured by using temperature and humidity recorder. The results show that the park play a certain role in reducing the surrounding temperature within 100 meters. In 2017 and 2019, the proportion of heat island area in the 100 meters buffer zone is reduced by 4. 83% and 1. 38% respectively, and the mean surface temperature is reduced by 0. 72°C and 1. 15°C respectively compared with the core zone. Furthermore, from 10:00 to 17:00 the temperature of each measuring point in the park is lower than the control point, which is 1. 65°C lower on average. The average relative humidity in the park is 2. 68% higher than the control point. From March to August, the temperature of each point in the park is lower than that of the control point, which is 0. 67°C lower on average. In March, April, June and July, the humidity at each point in the park is higher than that at the control point, with an average of 1. 82%. It shows that the forest park plays a role of cooling and humidifying during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urban development has changed urban substrate conditions, greatly affecting urban ecology and heating urban environment. Mitigating urban temperature rises by optimizing urban morphology is considered a promising approach; most studies ignore spatial and temporal heterogeneity. This study analyzes how plot spatial form influences urban thermal environment in the main Nanjing area from 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021, based on geographically weighted regression models (spatio-temporal- and multi-scale). Results show that: 1. The formation of geothermal heat islands matches the direction of urban expansion, mainly due to changes in land substrate; 2. the spatio-temporal model performs best, indicating that urban morphology and surface thermal environment have obvious spatio-temporal heterogeneity; obvious scale differences exist in each index influencing the heat island effect; and 3. floor area ratio (FAR) and building density (BD) negatively and positively correlate with surface thermal conditions, with gradually increasing effect, respectively. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and distance from the nearest water body (Dis_W) negatively and positively correlate with surface thermal conditions separately; good ecological infrastructure reduces surface temperatures but shows a gradually weakening effect. Proximity to roads is associated with warmer thermal environment. This study elucidates how urban form influences surface thermal environments and suggests measures to reduce surface temperatures in the main urban Nanjing area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building energy, particularly air conditioning energy, makes for a significant fraction of overall societal energy usage. The heat island effect is a common urban environmental concern that threatens human sustainable development. Roofs, which cover more than 20% of the total metropolitan area, play an essential role in mitigating the urban heat island effect and lowering building energy use. To examine the triple beneficial benefits of cool roofs and green roofs on building energy conservation in different temperature zones in China, a simulation model based on a typical residential community is established. The results reveal that minimizing direct heat acquisition from the roof, reducing heat transfer from the enclosure, and enhancing the coefficient of performance have a surprising triple effect on building energy saving. In cold areas, hot summer and cold winter areas, and hot summer and warm winter areas, cool roofs may lower the regional ambient temperatures by 2°C, 2.3°C, and 2.6°C, respectively, whereas green roofs can reduce the regional ambient temperatures by 1°C, 1.1°C, and 1.2°C. The triple saving impact of cool roofs and green roofs may accomplish 11.0%, 11.5%, 12.6%, and 9.4%, 8.1%, and 9.3%, respectively, for building energy conservation. Because of the increased solar radiation, cool roofs perform better in low-latitude zones, whereas green roofs function consistently.

Precipitation is a critical factor affecting regional water cycles, water ecology, and socioeconomic development. Monthly precipitation, water vapor pressure, and temperature datasets from 613 meteorological stations across China were used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of urban rain island effects at the national scale during periods of slow (1960–1969) and accelerated (2010–2019) urbanization. The combined effects of artificial water dissipation and heat islands on urban precipitation were a key focus of this study. The results showed that rain island effects (0–31.6 mm/month) were primarily distributed along the southeast coast (dominated by the heat island effect) and northwest inland region (dominated by artificial water dissipation). During winter, the relative contribution of artificial water dissipation was higher in urban areas, and the rain island effect was more apparent than in the summer. Comparisons of precipitation prior to and following large-scale urbanization showed that precipitation and rain island intensity along the southeast coast and northwest inland region increased by 0–28 and 0–28.6 mm/month, respectively. These findings indicate that artificial water dissipation is an important water vapor source for urban precipitation, particularly during winter months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat islands (UHIs) caused by urbanization have become a major issue affecting the sustainable development of the ecological environment. The distribution of UHIs is mainly affected by the reflection and transmission of heat radiation caused by differences in urban spaces, and the anthropogenic heat emissions caused by social activities. At present, the research on the urban thermal environment involves two spatial classification systems: local climate zone (LCZ), based on urban morphology and spatial patterns; and urban functional zone (UFZ), based on socio-economic activities. It is not clear whether there are association rules between these two systems in different cities. Against this background, this study explores the association rules between the UFZ and LCZ classification systems using the selected Chinese cities in different regions as typical examples. Our results confirm that there are common association rules from UFZ to LCZ, as the form of buildings is greatly influenced by the types of functional areas in urban construction. Specifically, the medical zone corresponds to the compact mid-rise zone (LCZ2); the business service area and the office area also correspond to the compact zone (LCZ1-LCZ3); and the industrial area corresponds to the compact low-rise zone (LCZ3). These functional zones have the same association rules in different cities. The cross-regional mining of the relationship between different urban functional systems will help to coordinate different planning departments and carry out the integration of multiple spatial plans. Furthermore, we found that LCZ has a better differentiation effect on the surface temperature through our comparison research, which makes it more suitable as a reference for research on the thermal environment and the heat island effect.

Climate change necessitates widespread adoption of renewable energy for carbon neutrality. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are among the most viable options, particularly in regions closer to the equator. Deploying solar PV panels has an impact on the existing environment and urban climate given the addition of low albedo and low thermal capacity materials. This concerns the strategic PV panels implementation in the urban planning and building design considerations towards human thermal comfort. This work is motivated by the conflicting effects that PV panel deployments cause on the urban temperature. It analyses 264 studies across climates and examines simulation-based and site measurement-based methodologies, as well as non-uniform thermal environment rating metrics, for assessing the impact of PVs on urban temperature. Results highlight variations in urban configurations, simulation settings, sensor placements, and measurement protocols, leading to inconsistent findings. Consequently, the research gap is identified, indicating the need for a systematic, fair, and normalized approach to assess the impact of PV systems on urban temperature, along with research directions and the challenges associated with its implementation. Finally, this analysis presents preliminary guidelines for field measurements and simulations. A comprehensive workflow integrating CFD, Lattice Boltzmann method, Deep Learning, and optionally Machine Learning is further proposed for PV impact assessment. These insights contribute to informed decision-making for the development of sustainable architectural design and urban planning strategies that effectively integrate PV systems to mitigate urban heat island effects and achieve desirable thermal comfort. • Comprehensive review of solar PVs impact on urban temperature. • Discussed mechanisms and modelling of PVs-environment interactions. • Reviewed the ecosystem of simulation tools for solar PVs. • A newer workflow for heat impact assessment of PV deployments. • Developed optimization for PVs deployment for different scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]