Cooling capacity assessment in Karet Tengsin Platinum Integrated Area

Abstract

The increasing trend of urbanisation has resulted in land use changes and increased urban activities, which led to the emergence of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. The readiness of urban design and planning in mitigating UHI becomes crucial, to reduce the demand for cooling energy and enhance productivity. This study aimed to calculate the cooling capacity index of the Karet Tengsin Platinum Area design, using InVEST 3.12.1, based on shading, evapotranspiration, albedo, and distance from cooling islands, and it has a range of 0-1. The index was further analysed, using the kernel density method, to examine the spatial density patterns to identify the priority features that need to be intervened to mitigate UHI in the Area. The research findings show that, the Karet Tengsin Platinum Area design has a cooling capacity index ranging from 0.22 to 0.83, dominated with a low index value, below 0.3, indicating that, this area has poor cooling capacity. Low index values are distributed in built-up areas, which show that, the materials used in built-up areas need to be prioritised as features that need to be intervened to enhance the cooling capacity. Additionally, this study also discusses urban cooling strategies, through other features that are less explored in the modelling. This study method can be used as a reference for urban designers in integrating urban cooling approaches, as UHI mitigation strategies, in urban area planning and design.