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3rd International Conference on Smart Cities and Sustainable Planning IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

Mitigating urban heat island effects in urban environments:

strategies and tools

Mohammed Fadhil1*, Mustafa N Hamoodi1 and Abdul Razzak T Ziboon1

1
Civil Engineering Department, University of Technology, Bagdad, Iraq

*
E-mail: bce.20.64@grad.uotechnology.edu.iq

Abstract. In the twenty-first century, urban heat islands (UHIs) have become a major problem
for humanity as a consequence of urbanization and industrialization. The main causes of UHI
are the vast amounts of heat generated by urban structures as they consume and re-radiate solar
energy and anthropogenic heat sources. The two heat sources cause an urban area's temperature
to rise above its surroundings, a phenomenon known as Urban Heat Island (UHI). Many
approaches, methods, models, and investigative tools have been implemented to study and
analysis this phenomenon. In general, green areas in cities are thought to be an effective approach
to mitigate urban heat island effects and bring comfort to residents. The improvement of
microclimatic conditions in urban environments is mostly influenced by evapotranspiration.
Most of the studies show a rising trend in the UHI, which is linked to decreased plant cover and
land-use changes. The main objectives of this paper were to explain the concept, formation
factors, and influential factors of UHI. In addition, the most common strategies and tools that are
applied in mitigating rising temperatures in urban areas were reviewed and summarized. The
finding of several studies showed that increasing urban vegetation areas in addition to optimizing
their spatial distribution and configuration is an effective strategy to reduce the impact of UHI.

1. Introduction
When the temperature in an urban area is significantly different from that of the surrounding countryside,
we speak about UHI. Building construction and impermeable surfaces like asphalt, walkways, and
pavement are the primary causes of urban heat islands (UHI) [1]. Voogt [2] describes a UHI as an
accidental climatic change that occurs when the atmosphere and surfaces of urbanized regions are
warmer than their non-urbanized surroundings. Urbanization alters the surface and atmospheric climate,
resulting in a changed thermal climate that is warmer than the surrounding non-urbanized areas,
especially at night. In 1818, Luke Howard noticed that the city had an artificially high temperature
relative to the countryside, and this was the first time UHI was reported [3] and introduced in 1833.
Manley (1958) was the first to use the term UHI in the literature [4]. Climate change and meteorological
factors have been linked by several of these researches, which found a strong correlation between UHI
and certain properties of the earth's surface [5], a shift in the direction of the local wind [6], higher
energy use in the urban areas [7], through ground-level ozone generation, air pollution [8] and eventually
affecting residents' physical and emotional well-being [9]. The amount and kind of heat created by urban
structures may be influenced by a variety of other factors, such as the building materials and the view
of the sky. Land use/land cover (LULC) refers to a collection of man-made and natural elements, as well
as their geographical distributions; it is one of the most important elements influencing the amount and
distribution of LST in urban settings. There is a major impact on the ambient environment due to the
replacement of natural land cover with artificial impermeable surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, and

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3rd International Conference on Smart Cities and Sustainable Planning IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

metal, such as these: decreased evapotranspiration, increased storage and transmission of sensible heat
energy, and decreased airflow [10]. Changes in LULC have been linked to LST advancement in many
studies, especially in locations where the highest temperatures are associated with bare land and built-
up areas, whereas lower temperatures are linked to water bodies and vegetation [11]. Large amounts of
construction material are crammed into a small area in a typical metropolis, allowing high-intensity solar
radiation to be captured. Because of the reduced sky view in cities, long-wave radiation's capacity to
release heat is limited, resulting in increased heat storage in building structures due to typical street
canyon designs. In simple uniform surfaces as well as heterogeneous and complex ones, a surface's
albedo is defined as its hemispherically and wavelength-integrated reflectance. The quantity of solar
radiation absorbed by building envelopes and urban structures is reduced by using high albedo materials,
which keeps their surfaces cooler. Urban albedos are typically in the range of 0.1 to 0.2. However, in
some cities, these values can be higher. North African towns (albedos of 0.3 to 0.45) are good examples
of high albedo urbanized regions, whereas most US and European cities have lower albedos (0.15 to
0.2) [12]. One of the main causes of high air temperatures in cities is the low albedo, which is light
reflected in contrast to light that is absorbed by the atmosphere. Albedo values and sky views are thus
considered two crucial components for creating UHIs [13]. Global population growth has resulted in
more congested cities becoming a driving force of human development. In addition, serious concerns
such as air pollution and heat waves. As people migrate to large cities and away from rural regions,
urban growth is becoming a frequent worry across the world. The growth of the urban population has
economic and environmental effects [4]; however, ecological changes have received a lot of attention
as a result of climate change and global warming, which have direct ramifications for human existence.
Lenzholzer [14] noted that the urban climate differs significantly from that of the rural and that even
inside a city; the microclimate fluctuates explaining that the urban environment is very different from
the countryside, and even the intra-urban microclimate varies among places in the same town.
Environmental damage continues to be exacerbated by pollution, land-surface changes, and urban heat.
The surface of the earth [15], the abrupt decline in plant cover, and the continual growth of man-made
surfaces, like roads and structures, radiative flow, and urban microclimates are affected by all of these
factors, resulting in increased urban heat and the formation of urban hot spots [16]. Physiologically,
thermal comfort is described as a state in which the brain communicates happiness with the temperature
surroundings. Because "pleasure" is a very personal concept, this term encompasses a broad variety of
experiences [17]. In the study of urban climatology, the surface temperature is crucial. It affects the
energy exchanges that affect the comfort of city dwellers, modulates the air temperature of the lowest
layers of the urban atmosphere, is central to the energy balance of the surface, helps to determine the
internal climates of buildings, and modulates the air temperature of the lowest layers of the urban
atmosphere.

2. Types of UHIs
According to Srivanit and Hokao [18], there are two forms of UHI:

 Surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) are measured using land surface temperature (LST). Estoque
[19] focused on SUHI, which is presented at all times of the day and night but is highest during
the day owing to solar radiation. US EPA 2008 [20] Numerous landscape variables were
explored in order to help explain regional differences in surface temperatures in areas, and the
implications of the results were addressed in the contexts of landscape and urban design, as well
as SUHI research.
 Atmospheric urban heat islands (AUHIs) are characterized by warmer air in urban areas
contrasted with colder air in adjacent rural areas. It is divided into two subcategories:

1. Canopy layer urban heat islands or (Near-surface temperature (Ta)): are found in the layer
of air below the tops of trees and rooftops where people reside. It is the temperature of a
shielded thermometer at the height of two meters above the ground that is a critical input
parameter in earth's surface modelling and hydrological models. Zhou [21]. It has been
extensively used in several domains, including the modelling of glacier melting, calculation
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3rd International Conference on Smart Cities and Sustainable Planning IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

of evapotranspiration, global climate change, and simulation of agricultural growth, urban

heat island, and drought monitoring [5]. Station observations, climate reanalysis datasets,
and remote sensing are three methods for obtaining Ta data. The most direct and accurate
technique is the observation station; it is usually utilized as the reference point for
correlating the Ta determined by other techniques.
2. Urban heat islands in the boundary layer start at the rooftop to treetop height and continue
up until the point when urban landscapes do not influence the atmosphere. This zone
usually doesn't extend more than one mile (1.5 km) from the ground [16].

The Canopy layer and Boundary layer have a direct influence on people's lives and take into account
the complicated interaction of the surface and above-ground climates [22]. Zhou [11] presented a new
high-resolution daily Ta estimate technique for both clear and overcast skies. They used multivariable
regression models built at the CLDAS scale to estimate Ta at the MODIS scale. They suggested a new
technique for estimating Ta that uses MODIS LST, DEM, DDL, and a reanalysis weather dataset as
input variables to overcome the constraints of the traditional Ta interpolation technique for hydrological
modelling in glacierized basins. The suggested technique may be used to estimate Ta for hydrological
modelling in ungauged glacierized basins, according to the results. Firozjaei [23] proposed a new
method for estimating the NSTLR (NLST) depending on the Adjusted Land Surface Temperature by
combining remote sensing imagery, such as Landsat images, MODIS products, land cover maps,
ASTER Digital Elevation Model and the (DEM), and weather data from the weather station and self-
deployed machines. Firozjaei [24] examined remote sensing data, including the effect of surface features
on LST feature space for NSTLR modelling using Landsat 8 pictures, MODIS products, and the surface
characteristics like DEM and land use of the Balikhli-Chay. The Split Window (SW) approach was used
to determine the LST, and spectral indices were used to represent surface biophysical characteristics.
The NSTLR was calculated for different types of surface biophysical characteristics, land use, and sun
local incidence angle because of their effect on the LST feature space. The findings showed that for
different dates, the predicted NSTLR value based on the LST-DEM feature space was varied. In
addition, the value of NSTLR determined under various topographic and biophysical situations varied.
Mohammed [25] used (LST) from thermal infrared satellite images, including MODIS daily LST with
a spatial resolution of 1 kilometre and landsat8 LST with a pixel size of 100 m, to represent spatial
variance, as well as (DEM) to show elevation variance. The statistical software SPSS was used to
determine the temporal variance of the model as independent factors and the air temperature data as
correlated variables. Schwarz [26] looked into the use of LST and Ta data for different UHI/SUHI
indicators. Spearman rank correlations were used to analyse the relationship between LST as well as air
temperatures (hypothesis 1), and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to quantify the effect
of a land cover category (independent variable) on moving route air temperatures Ta and LSTs
(dependent variables). The results demonstrated a considerable interaction between the air and the LSTs.
The best correlation was found between air temperature point observations, and LSTs averaged across
the traverse's surrounding measurement points. The temperatures of the land surface and the air varied
statistically based on the types of land cover.

3. Associated determinants of urban heat islands

3.1. Formed factors of UHIs

According to Ackerman [27], the phenomenon of UHI can cause air temperatures in cities to be 2–5°C
higher than in adjacent rural regions. In urban areas, UHI is primarily caused by a larger proportion of
man-made impermeable surfaces and a lower proportion of natural land cover. The replacement of
natural land covers like a plant, soil, and water with artificial impermeable surfaces like asphalt,
concrete, and metal has severe environmental consequences, including reduced evapotranspiration,
increased storage and transmission of sensible heat, and decreased air circulation [28]. Greater
absorption of daylight by dark-colored rooftops, the physicochemical characteristics of common
materials in city areas, the increasing influence of heat in the urban area caused by urban morphology
affecting shading and airflow, as well as the deficiency in green areas in the city all contribute to the

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3rd International Conference on Smart Cities and Sustainable Planning IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

urban heat island effect. According to previous research, UHI has a close association with
meteorological indices and earth surface features such as climate change [5], a shift in the direction of
the local wind [6], rising energy use in cities [7], ground-level ozone generation pollutes the air [29] and
as a result, affects individuals' comfort and physical health temperature and cooling rates are two key
markers of the urban heat island [9]. Based on this temperature and cooling rates data, it was established
that urban physical variables, particularly the floor area ratios and buildings coverage ratio, had a
significant impact on the quality of life in cities. Building attributes that influence the presence of the
urban heat island phenomena had a substantial influence on the size of the UHI. In urban settings, a
number of variables, including (vegetation, constructed areas, level, slope, aspect, and Land use/land
cover) influence variation and the intensity of the LST. Choudhury [30] pointed out that landscapes and
urban LST have a negative link, whereas built-up spaces with urban LST have a favorable relationship.
Other studies found an adverse relationship between elevation and urban LST and various links between
LST and slope aspect [31]. Several studies examined the impact of land surface components on LST
using "normalized form" RS spectral indices (e.g., the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
as well as the Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI)) as proxies for surface vegetative cover,
built-up areas, and other land surface components, concluding that greenery, impervious cover, surface
soil, and water contents are all important factors for LST [32]. These indices, for example, were used to
classify Landsat imaging time series in order to look at the geographic factors that influence LST
patterns in Chinese Suzhou and Hong Kong. The authors observed that NDBI, followed by NDVI, had
the biggest influence on LST [33]. Recently, Hamoodi [34] studied the impact of military and political
conflicts on the urban thermal environment, such as wars, political turmoil, informal settlements (slums),
and anthropogenic practices (such as scraping orchards, agricultural lands, and electricity generators),
with a focus on the Baghdad metropolitan area's surface urban heat island (SUHI). Rizwan [35] looked
into UHI to see whether it was a reliable indication of urban heating. The daily patterns of UHII
depending on air and surface temperature, as well as variances in temperature in city and rural locations,
were investigated and addressed. The complete air temperature Ta-based UHII patterns in one city and
four rural areas of Hong Kong were determined. The UHII was derived using a regionally averaged air
temperature difference to determine the variance in air temperature among an urban/suburban region as
well as the surrounding rural area. The debate includes reported air temperature and surface-temperature
dependent UHII trends in order to undertake a complete analysis. UHII has been shown to effectively
reflect urban heating at night and early in the morning. However, the lower and negative UHII at solar
peak time (during the day when solar radiation is the primary source of heat) does not appear to represent
urban heating. As a result, landscape design for the area's sustainable urban growth should take into
account the production and consequences of UHIs, as well as possible mitigation and adaptation
techniques.

3.2. Impact of UHIs

In cities, increased industrialization and urbanization have resulted in significant pollution concerns.
Sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants have a direct
impact on human health as well as historical monuments and structures. Increased temperatures in cities
have resulted in substantial economic and health difficulties affecting more than half of the world's
population [32]. The phenomenon of the urban heat island (UHI) has been proven to have several
detrimental repercussions in terms of energy usage, thermal comfort of the human body, residents'
health, wellness, and quality of the air. As a result of human activity, UHI impacts have been thoroughly
documented, posing considerable difficulties to urban systems, residents' lives, and ecosystems. Most
researchers, however, have found that UHI causes a significant rise in energy use in summer for cooling.
At the same time, UHI has had a negative influence on the thermal environment of cities; external
thermal comfort, people's health as well, and air quality are all factors to consider. Global warming's
effects (including those on human well-being and health, diverse ecosystems, and energy and water
consumption levels) may be amplified in metropolitan areas. Climate change, changes in local wind
patterns, increased energy usage in cities, air pollution through the generation of ground-level ozone,
and eventually impacting residents' comfort and physical health are all linked to UHI. Energy
consumption, storm water run-off management, environmental disturbance, community health, and

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IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

changing climatic conditions are all examples of UHI consequences. UHI has several negative
consequences, including a worsening of the living environment and an increase in energy usage, a rise
in the amount of ozone in the atmosphere at ground level, as well as a rise in mortality rates. UHI can
have social, economic, or environmental consequences. Heat waves, for example, do not simply create
modest discomfort; excessive heat waves can cause a variety of health concerns as well as significant
energy usage. The presence of UHI increases energy demand, especially in the summer, resulting 7%
increase in CO2 equivalent yearly emissions. High-heat exposure Long-term stress in hot surroundings
can hurt the human body's health, resulting in a variety of diseases, severe disorders, and even death.
There is a collection of research on urbanization's influence on China's climate. Better techniques and
homogenized data were used to re-estimate the influence of the population on local climate patterns.
Assessed the climatic consequences of urbanization and demonstrated the processes at work in
combination with three key factors that influence the local climate of China (urban land use, AH, and
aerosols). Several studies on cities' effects on climate extremes and also related urban adaptation
techniques are presented. Urbanization had a bigger influence on severe weather than it does on regular
weather. High-resolution simulations conducted in Shanghai in July–August 2013 demonstrated strong
feedback between both the UHI and the super-heat wave.

4. Data and methods of measuring UHIs

4.1. Weather station data

Meteorological stations are a set of devices for forecasting weather and climate and from the old
traditional methods of measuring temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and others. They are
often spread in the form of networks, but one of their main disadvantages is their high cost and limited
coverage of hard-to-reach areas, especially rugged areas, which caused their uneven distribution, and
consequently, the limited data that can be obtained and their lack of accuracy the farther the point is
from the weather station.

4.2. Remotely sensed data

In comparison to meteorological station data, UHIs may now be observed from afar. Remote sensing by
satellite and aircraft platforms provides greater geographical coverage. Increasingly, researchers are
using satellite technology to measure surface temperatures and quantify UHI impacts in heavily
populated areas. Remote sensing technologies have helped show the role of land use patterns in long-
term surface temperature increases through the integration of thermal remote sensing and urban
micrometeorology [1]. New paths for the observation of UHIs and the investigation of their cause have
opened up with the development of thermal remote sensing technology, which uses satellite and aircraft
platforms.

5. Results and discussion

This paper highlighted relevant studies on the UHI sources in urban and their main impact on human
health and the influence of green spaces on the development of the cooling effects, the mitigation of
heat islands, and the supply of thermal comfort in urban settings. The rising recognition of the role of
green spaces, particularly parks, in the development of cooling effects has resulted in the publishing of
several studies on the issue using various approaches and at various sizes during the last ten years. This
work was collected based on technique and scope of study due to the large quantity and variety of
publications published on this topic. The development of UHI is acknowledged to be the ambient
warmth caused by the heat generated by certain metropolitan settings. The study on urban parks and
green spaces has been evaluated as part of a larger literature review. The literature has several review
studies on it, and they have researched the articles on the entirety of green infrastructure from a broad
viewpoint. Numerical modelling and satellite technology looked to be frequently used as research tools
for the UHI. We aimed to fill a gap in the literature by conducting review research on multi-green areas
and their cooling effect. The elements that contribute to the establishment of UHI may be divided into
two categories: controlled and uncontrollable. The control elements are mostly design and planning-
related, which people can affect to some degree, while the uncontrollable ones are environmental but

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IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

also nature-related, which we can affect. The principal causes of heat in a specific place were recognized
as the anthropogenic source of heat and solar radiation.

5.1. Effective strategies for mitigating UHIs

It is well-known that many strategies have been adopted to reduce the influence of UHIs in cities around
the world. Measurements (field observations, scale models, and thermal remotely sensing) and
simulations by computer have previously demonstrated the benefit of green infrastructure (vegetation
covers, forests, green spaces, and parks) in lowering urban heat islands. To minimize high heat intensity
owing to the aforementioned concerns, limiting human heat emission and making appropriate design
changes, including the high albedo surfaces and use of cooler roofing, suitable building materials, and
excellent building design, have all been recommended [48]. Many studies have recorded widely and
efficiently applied methods for reducing the effects of urban UHI, with financial and environmental
benefits predicted. There are three types of mitigation strategies that have been proposed: (1) reducing
human heat release (e.g., switching off air conditioning units); (2) better roof design (e.g., green surface
roofs, roof spraying cooling, reflective roofs, and so on); and (3) other design elements (e.g.,
humidification, higher albedo, photovoltaic canopies, and so on) [48]. Green spaces, green surface roofs,
and permeable surfaces are capable of reducing heat and reducing energy inputs because of the
evaporation and transpiration that occurs. Building roofs and pavements might be coated or painted with
cool materials that have high albedo and infrared remittance to reduce solar absorption and boost the
ability to reflect solar radiation. The common strategies and tools have been documented in the literature
for mitigating the effect of UHI, illustrated below:

5.1.1. Vegetation covers

Vegetation reduces the heat island effect by warming the air rather than cooling them. By shading
surfaces and reducing solar heat input through evapotranspiration and the conversion of incoming solar
energy to latent heat, vegetation lowers air temperatures. Furthermore, the lower temperature causes less
long-wave radiation to be released from the ground and leaves, in contrast to the surrounding artificial
hard surfaces, reducing the radiant burden on individuals. The microclimatic influence of trees, in
particular, is achieved through several processes: (1) the use of shade to reduce solar heat gain on
windows, walls, and roofs as building surface temperatures are decreased by shade, the building's long-
wave interaction with the sky is reduced. The characteristics of green urban areas and green spaces have
a good impact on the urban microclimate: (a) the increased incidence of solar radiation absorption (b)
the low thermal conductivity and heat capacity of trees when compared to the construction materials of
buildings and urban places in cities (c) the cooling of the air through transpiration; (d) a lowering in
infrared radiation (e) reducing the airflow close the soil (f) the collection of dust and contaminants in
the air (g) the noise insulation given by the presence of trees. Green areas in cities can assist in offsetting
UHI effects by providing a cooling effect [17] as well as a supply of fresh air. Furthermore, vegetation
might help alleviate and adapt to severe climatic consequences that are expected soon, like CO2
absorption by (vegetation trees) and reduced energy use because of lower temperatures induced by green
areas. Reduced air pollution and noise levels are other benefits of urban green areas, as are their positive
impacts on human health. Green spaces are also a vital asset for preserving the urban quality of life
because of the ecological and social advantages they provide. Evaporative cooling (energy used for
transpiration rather than heating the air), shading (directly shadowing and intercepting solar radiation),
and albedo effects (altering the reflection and absorption of solar radiation) are all well-known ways for
vegetation to help reduce urban temperatures. Although improved urban planning approaches and highly
reflecting construction materials can assist in reducing the negative impacts of rising urban temperatures
on building roofs and walls, vegetation management can also help to mitigate the harmful effects of
rising urban temperatures. The major techniques for mitigating the UHI impact in cities are urban
greenery and cool surfaces: Tree planting around a building or using reflective surface roofs has a direct
influence on the structure's energy balance and cooling needs. In this manner, as trees are planted and
the albedo of a city changes, the energy balance changes, resulting in climatic changes across the city.
Depending on the climate and soil conditions, air temperature decreases of 1 to 3 °C can be obtained
beneath the canopy in green regions due to the combined impact of shade and evapotranspiration.

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IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1129 (2023) 012025 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1129/1/012025

Smaller green zones strategically organized or clustered around buildings should be heavily encouraged
from a planning standpoint. This is not to say that vast urban parks are ineffective in terms of enhancing
urban climate; rather, they are seen as a luxury in a densely populated area, particularly when fast
urbanization occurs. When trees are properly positioned around buildings, the energy needed to enhance
thermal comfort is greatly decreased, giving as much shade as available during the warmer months and
as little shadow as available during the cold season. The impact of plants on temperature and humidity
balance, the engagement of dust and toxic gases, and the regulation of air movement all contribute to
the improvement of urban microclimate.

5.1.2. Evapotranspiration
High temperatures are reduced by trees in two ways: (a) through shadow, with solar radiation absorbed
or reflected by the leaves of trees; (b) by evaporation just at the local level, by cooling the air owing to
the use of energy to transpiration instead of heating. The most significant method by which trees help
to the reduction of high urban temperatures is evapotranspiration (ET), which seems to be the sum of
evaporation plus plant transpiration. Increased forest cover in a city decreases summer heat more than
it increases wintertime cold. There is evidence that planting trees surrounding residential buildings may
minimize cooling and heating costs by reducing summer heating and by providing wind protection.
Properties with mature trees, in the opinion of many real estate professionals, outperform those with
equivalent but less mature trees. Cooling costs may be reduced by 1.9% to 2.5% for each household
tree, which provides a significant financial incentive to live in places with a lot of tree cover. The price
of a home decreases as the distance from a park or other open space increases. A statistically significant
correlation between property value and proximity to green space has been found. In a subtropical
climate, Duarte looked at the micro-scale cooling effects of plants in urban contexts, especially during
the daytime hours. Compared to central park and pocket parks, the scenario with dense trees along the
sidewalk showed the lowest air temperature readings and a more even distribution of the cooling effect
of vegetation. Despite the slight changes in air temperature across the three situations, the two comfort
indices utilized show that falling means radiant temperatures, particularly in the scenario, induce
increasing levels of comfort (central park), demonstrating a park cool island effect, an oasis effect even
amid high-rise skyscrapers in a dense environment. None of these options would alter long-term
warming trends. The study area's progressive growth and completion of vegetation may have a positive
influence on the urban environment and microclimate, enhancing present conditions. A tree's overall
yearly benefits come from energy savings, improved air quality, lower carbon dioxide levels, and rainfall
absorption. Increased forest cover in a city decreases July heat more than it increases wintertime cold.
Planting trees around residential structures may reduce both cooling and heating expenses owing to
lower summer heating and a wind-shielding effect. As a consequence, the findings of this study are
important since energy consumption for air conditioning can be reduced, especially during the summer
months, if trees contribute to air cooling. Oliveira evaluated the thermal performance of a tiny green
area and its effect on the surrounding atmosphere's meteorological characteristics for (a) determining if,
no matter how little, this green urban space has a cooling effect on the neighbouring environment on
warm and dry weather, and how this impacts bioclimatic parameters, (b) to investigate whether urban
factors such as highway design and direction have an impact on the thermal performance of the green
space, (c) to look at the effect of proximity to the plant and exposure to the sun on the thermal properties
of the area surrounding the green space. Green areas in urban environments may offer a cooling impact
called the "park cool island," according to the research. On hot and dry days, this cooling effect is more
visible in places with UHI than in places with a Mediterranean climate.

5.1.3. Water bodies

Because the water body has a high thermal capacity and inertia, it has a lower LST and a strong UCI. It
acts as an extra cold source in the green space buffer, changing the GCI efficiency. GCI effects will be
strengthened by increasing vegetation and water body fractions or decreasing impermeable surfaces.
Conversely, rapid evaporation creates "oasis effects" in water bodies and helps cool the surrounding
surface air. In the summer, water bodies serve as urban cooling islands (UCI) due to the temperature
differential.

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5.1.4. High albedo surfaces

High albedo surfaces have high solar reflectance and infrared remittance to limit solar radiation
absorption and enhance the capacity to reflect solar radiation. There are certain ways to make pavements
cooler and more permeable. To aid in the resolution of both heat island and storm water run-off issues
in the built environment through measurements and modelling of a set of pavement test sections showed
permeable interlocking concrete pavers have the highest permeability, according to the data. In the
summer, an increase in albedo can greatly reduce the high surface temperature throughout the day.
Permeable pavements may have lower surface temperatures than impermeable pavements when wet.
The cooling effect is greatly dependent on the amount of moisture available near the surface layer and
the pace of evaporation. Separate and related simulation research conducted by UCPRC found that, if
planned properly; full-depth permeable pavements can carry both light and heavy-duty traffic while
preserving the run-off volume gathered from a typical California storm event. The results showed that
combining reflective and permeable pavements might be used to solve both heat island mitigation and
storm water run-off control challenges in the built environment.

5.1.5. Other strategies

There are some other strategies to mitigate UHI effects. Recently, some studies have advised reducing
the effect of heat islands on individuals, such as Agriculture which has a tremendous impact on the
ecology across the globe, decreasing heat emissions from man-made objects, and planting trees [48]. At
the building level, it would also be possible to improve heat reflection first from the roof and create roof
gardens or rooftop gardens. Through construction designs and patterns, building clusters would create
shade from adjacent structures [48], with the height ratio and distance between buildings also being
considered. Urban landscape changes must be considered at the municipal and neighbourhood level, as
well as expanding communal or planting trees spaces and enhancing urban and local planning. Green
spaces in cities are regarded to be an efficient way to reduce UHI effects and provide relief to city
dwellers. The potential of urban green areas to influence the surrounding area in addition to red heat the
actual space is referred to as the cooling effect of urban green spaces. The important issues are the
strength and volume of the cooling impacts of urban green spaces, which may play a critical role for
urban planners in dealing with urban heat islands.

6. Conclusions
In this paper, previous studies in the field of urban heat islands, the fundamental principles, and the most
recent approaches and strategies to mitigate UHIs were reviewed and summarized. The different
elements that contribute to the formation of UHI have been examined and documented. Strategies and
instruments are employed to comprehend the creation, determination, and reduction of UHI. The
benefits and drawbacks of various methodologies were also discussed. According to the data, direct
sunlight heat plus human heat are the primary causes of UHI. The major sources of UHI production are
LCLU changes and increasing impervious surface areas, which lead to increases in UHI intensity. While
the increasing vegetation cover, water bodies, and high albedo surfaces can reduce UHI, provide cooling,
and provide thermal comfort for residents. However, UHI intensity is influenced by LCLU patterns,
seasons, and day/night. Surface temperature data was obtained using meteorological stations and remote
sensing techniques, and the surface temperature was derived through numerical modelling and computer
simulation using multiple applications. The finding provides helpful recommendations for reducing
UHI, as well as a feasible avenue for resolving urban climate challenges sustainably. It was also
concluded that approaches for calculating UHI reductions with changes in planning and design
parameters are required.

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