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<p>Urban heat stress has emerged as a critical challenge for rapidly growing cities in the Global South, particularly in dense residential neighborhoods with limited greenery and high impervious surfaces. This study investigates the spatial variability of outdoor heat stress across Local Climate Zones (LCZs) in Bhopal, India, with a particular focus on LCZ-3 (compact low-rise), which represents a dominant residential typology in the city. The study aims to (i) identify which LCZs are most affected by elevated land surface temperatures (LST), (ii) examine why LCZ-3 is most vulnerable to heat stress, and (iii) assess the effectiveness of greening interventions—such as green roofs and street trees—in mitigating thermal discomfort. Using the LCZ framework, nine urban land cover classes were mapped with an overall accuracy of 88.63% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.86. Field-based microclimate measurements and ENVI-met simulations were conducted on a representative summer day (March 23, 2022) between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. Results revealed a strong correlation between urban morphology and thermal conditions: LCZ-3 consistently recorded the highest LST values (median ~ 39.1&#xa0;°C), UTCI above 41&#xa0;°C, and WBGT above 35&#xa0;°C in exposed streets, indicating very strong heat stress. The ENVI-met model was validated using field data, with RMSE values within acceptable limits and strong Pearson correlations across variables. To test mitigation strategies, a greening scenario was simulated, adding green roofs and medium-sized deciduous trees. The results showed a UTCI reduction of up to 5&#xa0;°C in exposed areas, significantly improving thermal comfort. This research offers a novel integration of LCZ-based classification, microclimate modeling, and field validation to inform heat-resilient urban design. The findings underscore the potential of nature-based solutions in mitigating thermal stress in compact residential neighborhoods and serve as a replicable framework for other cities facing similar climatic and morphological conditions.</p>

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Assessing outdoor heat stress and mitigation strategies in compact urban neighborhoods: a microscale model in tropical composite climate City

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月8日

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  • Rakesh Mistry,
  • Surabhi Mehrotra

摘要

Urban heat stress has emerged as a critical challenge for rapidly growing cities in the Global South, particularly in dense residential neighborhoods with limited greenery and high impervious surfaces. This study investigates the spatial variability of outdoor heat stress across Local Climate Zones (LCZs) in Bhopal, India, with a particular focus on LCZ-3 (compact low-rise), which represents a dominant residential typology in the city. The study aims to (i) identify which LCZs are most affected by elevated land surface temperatures (LST), (ii) examine why LCZ-3 is most vulnerable to heat stress, and (iii) assess the effectiveness of greening interventions—such as green roofs and street trees—in mitigating thermal discomfort. Using the LCZ framework, nine urban land cover classes were mapped with an overall accuracy of 88.63% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.86. Field-based microclimate measurements and ENVI-met simulations were conducted on a representative summer day (March 23, 2022) between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. Results revealed a strong correlation between urban morphology and thermal conditions: LCZ-3 consistently recorded the highest LST values (median ~ 39.1 °C), UTCI above 41 °C, and WBGT above 35 °C in exposed streets, indicating very strong heat stress. The ENVI-met model was validated using field data, with RMSE values within acceptable limits and strong Pearson correlations across variables. To test mitigation strategies, a greening scenario was simulated, adding green roofs and medium-sized deciduous trees. The results showed a UTCI reduction of up to 5 °C in exposed areas, significantly improving thermal comfort. This research offers a novel integration of LCZ-based classification, microclimate modeling, and field validation to inform heat-resilient urban design. The findings underscore the potential of nature-based solutions in mitigating thermal stress in compact residential neighborhoods and serve as a replicable framework for other cities facing similar climatic and morphological conditions.