Building with nature: Morphological spatial pattern of green infrastructure in urban heat mitigation
Journal
Building and Environment
Journal Volume
279
Start Page
113087
ISSN
0360-1323
Date Issued
2025-07
Author(s)
Abstract
Green infrastructure is crucial in mitigating urban heat island phenomenon. This study examined the urban heat mitigation intensity of eight green infrastructure categories and the influences of their morphological spatial pattern. Firstly, the geographically weighted regression was used to convert satellite-retrieved land surface temperature into air temperature to represent human-experienced temperature accurately. Satellite-retrieved land surface temperature and land cover features were independent variables, while weather station air temperature was the dependent variable. The performance of geographically weighted regression model was assessed using a split validation method. Secondly, land use maps and remote sensing data classified the green infrastructure categories and landscape metrics quantified their spatial characteristics. Thirdly, statistical and morphological spatial pattern analyses were conducted to evaluate the influence of green infrastructure spatial characteristics on air temperature and to identify urban heat mitigation intensity cores at different cooling thresholds. Results showed all green infrastructure categories contributed to heat mitigation. Larger areas and more diverse shapes of natural forests, agricultural land, and building greening resulted in reduced average air temperature. Higher connectivity of natural forests and agricultural land could reduce air temperature. As cooling thresholds increased, urban heat mitigation intensity cores tended to consist of a single green infrastructure category, with only natural forests forming urban heat mitigation intensity cores at a 3 °C threshold. Larger cores typically comprised multiple green infrastructure categories, suggesting interconnected cooling effects. This study emphasized prioritizing naturally formed green infrastructure in urban planning while increasing and connecting artificially formed green infrastructure to form effective cooling networks.
Subjects
Ecosystem services
Natural cooling strategies
Nature-based solution
Urban cooling island
Urban planning
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Description
Article number: 113087
Type
journal article