Toward cool cities and communities: A sensitivity analysis method to identify the key planning and design variables for urban heat mitigation techniques

Abstract

• A sensitivity analysis model is developed to identify the key planning and design variables for urban heat mitigation techniques (UHMTs) in a specific urban context. • A holistic model to assess the environmental, economic and social impacts of UHMTs is developed. • High-performance UHMTs tailored to local contexts are recommended to decision makers. Cooling cities and communities requires impact assessment to explore the effectiveness of urban heat mitigation techniques (UHMTs) on multiple and possibly conflicting objectives, such as cooling potential, human health, and cost. This study developed a model integrating environmental, social and economic impact assessment and sensitivity analysis, which considers multiple objectives holistically and enables the key planning and design variables for UHMTs to be identified. The model consists of two components: (1) identifying the baseline and mitigation scenarios for UHMTs, and (2) integrating sensitivity analysis and environmental, social, and economic impact assessment, which can be tailored to a local urban context. An application in Leppington, Australia, is introduced to demonstrate the utility and implementation process of the model. Results show that the model can identify high-performance UHMTs and their key variables tailored to the Leppington case study and explore optimal solutions against multiple objectives. This study allows decision-makers to understand the environmental, social, and environmental impact of UHMTs holistically in their urban contexts, facilitating governments' policy decision-making in urban heat mitigation and sustainable urban development.