Urban heat island: a primary guide for urban designers

Abstract

Today, the most severe issue in metropolitan areas is rising surface temperature due to poor urban design. Given the significance of the urban thermal island, numerous studies have been done to discover the mechanisms influencing its growth and decline. Thermal comfort is relatively simpler to accomplish inside a building, whereas it is considerably more challenging to achieve in open spaces, and hence far less work has been done on it. The construction of urban thermal islands has emerged as one of the most serious concerns of our day, and it has captured the scientific community's attention. Attention to this subject has expanded dramatically in scholarly articles and research, particularly in the recent decade. Because of the subject's relevance, this study aims to undertake a systematic evaluation and thematic analysis of papers and scientific research in this field. According to studies, the urban heat island is influenced by climatic elements and city-building factors. All climate influences are sunlight, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, soil and air humidity, precipitation, latitude, seasonal change, topography, and proximity to rivers and the sea. Although these elements are almost uncontrolled in existing cities, they are essential in finding new cities or deciding the direction of city development. The second element category is controllable and primarily connected to city planning and building. Recognizing the significance of these factors can demonstrate the relevance and value of urban planning and design in lowering urban heat islands. We review the nature and aspects of this phenomenon in this article by exploring the theoretical foundations of this topic.