Street network patterns for mitigating urban heat islands in arid climates

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores the impact of street pattern measurements on urban heat islands (UHI) in the arid climate of Mashhad, Iran. The Landsat-8 top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) brightness images from 2013 to 2021, average values of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) were calculated. Street pattern measurements, including closeness-centrality, straightness, and street orientation, were employed to analyse the patterns in each district. The results indicated that districts with higher straightness and lower closeness-centrality exhibit cooler surface temperatures. Strong correlations were observed between LST and NDVI, straightness, and local closeness-centrality. The research highlighted the importance of considering street network measurements in long-term urban planning and design to mitigate the UHI effect in arid regions. A moderate grid street pattern with a reasonable distribution of green spaces throughout the region is suggested to reduce surface temperatures sustainably. Street pattern indexes, such as straightness and local closeness-centrality, are identified as significant factors in urban design to mitigate UHI. These findings have implications for urban planners, who can use this information to create street network patterns with lower UHI effects by reducing local closeness-centrality and increasing straightness.