Review of the Role of Urban Green Infrastructure on Climate Resiliency: A Focus on Heat Mitigation Modelling Scenario on the Microclimate and Building Scale

Abstract

This systematic review explores the role of urban green infrastructure (UGI) in enhancing climate resilience, focusing mainly on heat mitigation modelling and its application at both urban and building scales. The study analyses 207 articles published in the last five years at the screening stage and 50 at the inclusion stage, highlighting the effectiveness of UGIs in reducing ambient temperatures and improving building energy efficiency through shading and evapotranspiration. Advanced simulation tools like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Building Performance Simulation (BPS) are increasingly relied upon, though challenges remain in accurately modelling vegetation and urban-climate interactions. The review identifies critical research gaps, particularly in evaluating UGI’s performance under future climate change and seasonal variation scenarios, emphasising the need for refined simulation techniques. Moreover, the evapotranspiration modelling of UGIs needs to be developed on the BPS scale. Addressing these gaps is essential for optimising UGI design to ensure their effectiveness in future urban climates. The review calls for further studies on long-term UGI resilience, especially in rising global temperatures and evolving urban environments.