Relevance of Urban Geometry and Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Urban Heat Island Mitigation – A Review

Abstract

UHIs’ environmental and energy implications are well-known, but their significance in aggravating heat stress in populations is only recently being recognised. Planners, health managers, and public administrators now prioritise UHI prevention. Urban geometry, material finishes, and green and blue infrastructure are prominent UHI mitigation options. This paper examines urban geometry as a key parameter and reviews UHI research. This report also identifies information gaps and emphasizes the need for this type of research in key Indian metropolitan centers. The anticipated study will help public health planners and administrators. Methods: Authors compiled extensive literature on UHI and related concepts. The outcome intent was to understand the relevance of urban geometry parameters in UHI intensity and how it impacts outdoor thermal comfort. Various electronic databases were searched for publications meeting the criteria of outdoor thermal comfort and urban planning characters (urban geometry) as a mitigation strategy, ranging from 2000 to 2020. Summary: The impact of UHI on human comfort conditions cannot be ignored. Appropriate planning measures at the initial stages of city planning via urban geometry parameters can certainly yield encouraging results to reduce the intensity of UHI and improve outdoor thermal comfort conditions.