Next Article in Journal
Correction: Moradi et al. Novel Physics-Informed Artificial Neural Network Architectures for System and Input Identification of Structural Dynamics PDEs. Buildings 2023, 13, 650
Previous Article in Journal
Experimental Study on Mechanical Differences Between Prefabricated and Cast-In Situ Tunnel Linings Based on a Load-Structure Model
Previous Article in Special Issue
A Case-Study-Based Comparative Analysis of Using Prefabricated Structures in Industrial Buildings
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Buildings
Volume 15
Issue 14
10.3390/buildings15142523
buildings-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Urban Heat Island Mitigation by LEED and BIM Integration—A Review

by
Hafiz Saeed Ur Rehman
1,*,
Sabahat Alamgir
1,
Muhammad Arif Khan
2,
Rehan Masood
3,
Muhammad Hassan Sammad
1 and
Krishanu Roy
4,*
1
Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
2
Faculty of Architecture and Design, University of South Asia, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
3
School of Construction Management & Quantity Surveying, College of Engineering, Construction & Living Sciences, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
4
School of Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2523; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142523
Submission received: 18 May 2025 / Revised: 8 July 2025 / Accepted: 16 July 2025 / Published: 18 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Collection Buildings for the 21st Century)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Rising temperatures are one of the most severe consequences of climate change, and the built environment plays a significant role in exacerbating heat, particularly in urban areas. In densely populated cities with hot climates, buildings release heat generated from cooling their interiors, contributing to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Global research actively seeks ways to reduce UHI and promote a more sustainable built environment. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is among the most widely used sustainability assessment systems. Additionally, digital technologies, especially Building Information Modelling (BIM), are increasingly used to assess and improve energy performance in buildings. While there are frameworks that apply LEED and BIM separately to address UHI strategies, there are potential LEED–BIM integrations which need to be investigated. This study investigates how LEED and BIM can be integrated to support UHI mitigation efforts. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine existing integrations, analyzing trends by publication year, country, and building type. The study identified approximately thirty examples of LEED–BIM integrations supporting ten UHI mitigation strategies. However, it also highlighted underutilized BIM technologies and gaps in addressing certain strategies. The study proposes a framework to help practitioners and policymakers apply LEED–BIM integrations more efficiently, reducing the effort required to implement UHI mitigation strategies while enhancing their practicality and effectiveness.

1. Introduction

1.1. Background

Climate change is the biggest problem in the development of smart cities [1]. While global efforts to mitigate climate change through new construction have been widely adopted, the challenges associated with existing buildings, particularly rising temperatures, remain largely unaddressed [2,3]. A key contributor to this temperature increase is urbanization, which intensifies the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. UHI refers to the phenomenon where urban areas experience significantly higher outdoor temperatures—up to 12 K—than nearby rural areas [4,5]. This effect is further intensified by anthropogenic heat from vehicles, industrial activities, and air conditioning systems [6].
Asia is experiencing rapid urbanization, which has led to both the expansion and multiplication of UHIs. In some cities, night-time temperatures can be as much as 7 °C higher than those in surrounding regions. By 2050, between 500 and 700 million people across Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India may face a 20% annual likelihood of lethal heatwaves. In parts of India, chronic heat and humidity could result in the loss of up to 30% of annual daylight working hours [7].
Over the decades, Pakistan has suffered the most due to climate change. This lead to severe consequences, including the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, erratic rainfall, unpredictable floods, droughts, temperature fluctuations, water shortages, extreme heatwaves, lake saturation, storms, landslides, health risks, pest outbreaks, and shifts in seasonal patterns and daily life [8]. Rapid population growth has driven urbanization, replacing vegetation with dense buildings and infrastructure, which exacerbates UHI effects in major Pakistani cities [9,10].
In Islamabad, over the past 25 years, impervious surfaces have increased by 11.9%, reducing other land-use types and causing a net warming effect. The city’s average warming rose by 1.52 °C, while areas that reverted from impervious to natural surfaces only experienced a cooling effect of −0.8 °C. Forests converted into impervious surfaces contributed a 1.2% increase in UHI, whereas the reverse transformation had just a −0.2% cooling impact. The biophysical properties of land surfaces—such as heat retention and evapotranspiration—significantly influence Regional Land Surface Temperature (RLST), and despite remaining green areas, overall land use and cover changes have worsened warming [11].
In Lahore, seasonal temperature changes were evident in June and November 2019, with mean land surface temperatures (LST) of 35.5 °C and 21.5 °C, respectively, slightly higher than atmospheric readings. Urban parks provided varying cooling effects: stronger in summer and weaker in winter. Specifically, urban parks had the highest cooling intensity (PCI) during summer, while street parks showed greater cooling in winter. Between 1990 and 2020, built-up areas expanded from 22.9% to 46.4%, and vegetation decreased from 60.5% to 47.7%. Consequently, LST increased from 30.06 °C to 33.24 °C, and the SUHI (Surface Urban Heat Island) intensity rose by 0.69 °C. The negative correlation between NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and LST suggests that enhancing green spaces and using reflective (high-albedo) materials could improve urban thermal conditions [12,13].
In Larkana, since 1990, the average summer temperature has risen by 0.48 °C and winter by 1 °C. This increase correlates with settlement area growth from 8.16 to 23.98 square kilometers [10]. The expanding urban footprint and population density are major contributors to UHI in the region. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt urban sprawl control and sustainable planning practices to mitigate the UHI effect [14].

1.2. Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Human activities cause the environment to become excessively heated. The extent of this effect is measured by the UHI intensity, which reflects the maximum temperature difference between urban and nearby rural areas. Urban elements like buildings and roads absorb heat during the day and release it at night, causing significant temperature disparities between urban and rural zones. Various factors contribute to elevated temperatures in urban settings, including human-generated heat, heat retained by construction materials, reduced heat radiation from urban spaces, lack of greenery leading to less cooling through evaporation, decreased wind speed reducing heat dissipation, and hindered convective heat transfer from surfaces to the atmosphere [15]. The UHI effect represents a significant alteration of urban microclimates, characterized by elevated temperatures within urban areas compared to their rural surroundings. This phenomenon, primarily driven by urbanization and the extensive use of heat-absorbing materials in infrastructure, poses a multifaceted challenge, impacting not only environmental sustainability but also public health and energy consumption [16].
The effects of UHI are addressed by sustainability initiatives that integrate energy-efficient building techniques and green infrastructure. Parks, green roofs, and urban forests reduce urban temperatures, which lowers cooling energy requirements and enhances environmental sustainability. Energy-efficient structures minimize heat absorption and improve economic sustainability due to lower expenses. Additionally, by enhancing comfort and public health in urban settings, UHI mitigation fosters social sustainability [17,18,19]. Sustainable urban planning aims to reduce the UHI effect using various techniques. For example, by creating shade and encouraging evapotranspiration, implementing green infrastructure, such as walls, urban parks, and roofs, can dramatically lower surface temperatures. These actions reduce city heat, increase biodiversity, and raise environmental standards. To lessen the UHI impact, cooler, reflective roofing materials and lighter-colored pavements work well to reflect more sunshine and absorb less heat [20].
A building assessment system is a thorough framework created to evaluate a building’s sustainability performance at several phases of the building life cycle, such as design, construction, and post-construction. This approach often considers many elements, including land use, energy efficiency, water usage, material utilization, indoor environmental quality, operational management, and construction oversight. By ensuring that buildings fulfill specific green construction standards, these requirements promote social, economic, and environmental sustainability [21]. The building evaluation system supports environmental sustainability by encouraging the use of sustainable materials and construction practices that minimize environmental impact. For instance, integrating green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and renewable energy sources helps reduce the carbon footprint and conserve natural resources. Sustainable land use practices, such as preserving green spaces and promoting biodiversity, further enhance environmental health [21].
Achieving economic sustainability in building operations entails optimizing resource utilization and implementing cost-cutting strategies. High-performance insulation and cutting-edge HVAC systems are two examples of energy-efficient designs that minimize energy use and slash utility costs. Building lifespans are increased using sustainable and long-lasting materials, which eventually result in lower maintenance costs. The assessment system promotes long-term financial stability for developers and tenants by guaranteeing that buildings are commercially feasible [20]. Enhancing building occupants’ and the community’s overall quality of life is the main goal of social sustainability. By enhancing natural illumination, thermal comfort, and air quality, the building evaluation system supports healthy interior environments. Furthermore, inclusive and accessible design elements promote social fairness by guaranteeing that structures are usable by individuals with various abilities. The system improves the social well-being of urban inhabitants by establishing safe, cost, and welcoming environments [22]. The recognition of UHI impacts has grown, but the integration of comprehensive UHI mitigation strategies within current Building Evaluation Systems (BES), including the widely recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), remains insufficient [23]. Further, there is no clarity on the extent to which digital technologies, such as building information modelling (BIM) support UHI mitigation [24].

1.3. Scope of the Review

The application of information and communication technologies for sustainable buildings, as a UHI mitigator, is a hot research topic [25]. Nevertheless, innovative solutions are required, based on transformative practices, for a sustainable urban environment [26]. LEED metrics and BIM technologies were successfully integrated for a high-performance design studio at an academic level [19]. There is a clear connection between applied design strategy and sustainable indicator behavior in the context of landscape developments [27] and enhanced through simulations [28] and the bottom-up workflows’ implementation [29], for robust decision-making in urban planning. It has been found that there is a correlation between aggregated energy consumption and urban morphology, but investigation at the individual building level is still significant due to the lack of data [30]. Further, LEED-certified buildings potentially reduce the temperature of their surroundings [31]. There is no common practical framework based on green metrics and digital twins to address the sustainability challenges of the sociotechnical complex system in the context of the city [32]. Thermal performance of buildings and LEED–BIM interventions have drawn limited quantitative studies [33]. Nonetheless, the integration of LEED and BIM has not been explored for UHI mitigation.
Figure 1 shows the conceptualization of this review study. This review identifies strategies for UHI mitigation based on LEED–BIM integration. Further, the most common LEED credits and support for BIM technologies are covered. This study explores the extent of intervention of LEED as BES and BIM as digital technology and establishes the basis for an integration framework. This will help us obtain a more precise and more accurate understanding of how well UHI mitigation efforts are working.

2. Research Methodology

This study investigates the integration of BIM and LEED for UHI. These integrations are strategies that have been applied in relevant literature. However, UHI is a complex concept and its interrelationships enhance the complexity which needs proper effort to synthesize the related aspects [4]. A systematic literature review (SLR) identifies the appropriate information on the specific topic published in peer-reviewed outlets, which is more pertinent when investigating the integration of concepts to address a particular problem [34], and drives strategies or practices [35]. SLR is very relevant for complex research problems and is likely to attain the same results if followed by using the same process [36]. The most cited approach to conducting a systematic literature review is the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) [37]. This protocol is advantageous when the review involves the intervention of technology [38], a sustainability evaluation system [39], and integration [39]. Nevertheless, PRISMA is named as a living document based on traceable evidence, following a comprehensive checklist with visual aids as a flow diagram [40].
Figure 2 shows the PRISMA flow diagram for the current review. The Google Scholar search database was used to identify the most relevant journal articles. Google Scholar is suitable for capturing holistic sources of applied (empirical) research on a specific topic, but with relevance filtration, usually, the first 5 to 10 pages are very significant [41]. Further, Google Scholar mitigates publication bias by encompassing scholarly and grey literature [42]. The search string used was “urban heat island”, “LEED”, “BIM”, “Educational building”, “University building”, “institutional building”, “School building”, “office building”, or “multistory”. All the articles published in the last ten years were checked for relevance to the scope of the research; conference articles, theses, and books were excluded. The exclusion of 80 studies on the basis of “insufficient quality” was determined by assessing each study’s clarity of research design, presence of empirical analysis, explicit discussion of LEED–BIM integration, and methodological transparency. Although no formal tool was applied, these criteria were consistently followed to ensure relevance and rigor. Exclusion criteria used in PRISMA:
  • Focused only on LEED or only on BIM;
  • Did not address UHI mitigation directly;
  • Lacked methodological clarity or empirical validation;
  • Were thesis, books, or conference proceedings.
Nineteen studies were finalized. These studies represent the most relevant and credible evidence currently available on LEED–BIM integration for UHI mitigation.

3. Results and Discussion

In this section, all the key findings of the review are reported.

3.1. Key Trends

3.1.1. Publication Frequency

Figure 3 shows the publication frequency on LEED–BIM integration for UHI mitigation. More related publications were conducted in 2022, but overall, the frequency fluctuated with a minimum of “1” to a maximum of “5”. There is no clear indication of an increasing trend; instead, it seems more stable.

3.1.2. Country in Focus

Figure 4 shows the countries in focus as reported in the selected articles. Most studies published focus on the UAE, USA, and Egypt. However, there are 11% of the studies that did not mention any specific country. The top studies were from Middle East countries where urban heating is becoming a critical problem due to the hot climate with high temperatures.

3.1.3. Building Type

Figure 5 shows the coverage of selected studies by type of building. Most studies used case studies of residential, office, and educational buildings. The building types least addressed were historic and library. Building occupancy played a vital role in heat consumption and release.

3.1.4. Keyword Cloud

Figure 6 shows the ‘cloud of keywords for the articles’. The most recurring and connected keywords are ‘energy’, ‘building’, ‘green’, ‘performance’, ‘system’, ‘urban’, ‘simulation’, ‘modelling’, and ‘vertical’. It seems that selected articles’ main concept is improving energy efficiency of buildings to become greener using simulation techniques.

3.2. LEED–BIM Integrations for UHI Mitigation

This section reports all the key integrations between the LEED credit and BIM technologies for UHI mitigation strategies, as shown in Table 1.

3.2.1. Cool Roofing

Cool roofs use materials with high solar reflectance and thermal emittance to minimize heat absorption. Cool roofs, which are intended to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat than normal roofs, have become a cheap measure for addressing UHIs, where urban areas have much warmer temperatures compared to rural environments [43]. This keeps the building and the surrounding area cooler. If the device or structure is a roof, it should have an aged solar reflectance value of at least 0.28, as mentioned in LEED certification requirements by the Cool Roof Rating Council [44].
Adopting this strategy, the following LEED credit point should be achieved: Heat Island Reduction (SS Credit) by analyzing the reflectivity and emissivity of roof materials using BIM-based simulations, using multiple tools, Revit as a design tool, and collaborating with IES VE, Energy Plus, and EDSL TAS for the analysis.
This ability ensures that cool roof designs achieve LEED thresholds more precisely and effectively. BIM also simplifies the documentation process by automatically generating material take-offs, surface area calculations, and performance reports needed for LEED submittals.

3.2.2. Green Roofing

Green roofs are layers of vegetation built on rooftops that reduce building and adjacent temperatures via evapotranspiration and extra insulation. This technique improves thermal performance and helps with stormwater management and air purification. Phelan [43] focused on the cooling effect of green roofs, while Sohaili [45] showed their importance for air quality improvement. Li et al. [30] compared green and cool roofs, and green roofs were observed to have big potential for long-term energy efficiency. These systems work best with other passive strategies for cooling.
Increasing green spaces in cities can help decrease urban surface and ambient temperatures, mitigating the heat island effect [46]. Urban forest planning within urban centers is necessary to mitigate the effects of heat islands and provide thermal comfort in urban areas [47].
Venegas et al. [48] comprehensively evaluated energy-saving renovation strategies for an office building in Santiago de Chile. It is underscored that adding a cool roof coating decreases solar heat gains extensively and improves thermal performance. The addition of a cellulose fiber insulation layer and reflective coatings led to a significant reduction in roof thermal transmittance (from 1.35 W/m2K to 0.22 W/m2K), resulting in a lower HVAC cooling load. This reuse approach was most successful in hot areas.
However, Amani [49] investigated a necessary criterion as indicators of green roof retrofitting feasibility in the cold and dry climates of northern Tehran within the framework of sustainable building design to confirm the effectiveness of these solutions in these climatic conditions. To make buildings more energy-efficient, these systems were retrofitted with a layering of vegetation, substrate, drainage, insulation and waterproofing systems. The grass was chosen because it can withstand drought and extreme temperatures. The simulation results revealed that the annual energy consumption decreased significantly to 38 kWh/m2, below the national threshold of 100 kWh/m2 for sustainable buildings.
A broader bioclimatic design approach involving more vegetation, passive ventilation, and reflective materials was also used for UHI mitigation [50]. These roofs provide not just insulation for buildings, thereby decreasing heating and cooling loads, but also help mitigate UHIs, improve air quality, and manage stormwater. In a hot, humid climate, they support the natural cooling process by creating shaded, breathable spaces with maximized air flows. In a cold environment, they reduce the heat loss and promote solar gain—green roofs, amongst other components, such as water bodies. Green roof retrofitting can enhance building energy performance, especially in low-insulation existing buildings. The research by David [51] used Energy Plus simulations in four U.S. cities. It concluded that green roofs can result in high heating energy savings, especially in cold climates, because of increased insulation and thermal mass.
LEED–BIM integration uses technology to obtain LEED certification by integrating sustainability analysis into the design process. BIM facilitates data-driven decision-making per LEED requirements regarding material choice, energy efficiency, water use, and environmental footprints, simplifying the certification process and enhancing design results.
The strategy addresses the following LEED credit point that should be achieved: Heat Island Reduction (SS Credit), by analyzing the reflectivity and emissivity of roof materials and green roof layers, simulating stormwater retention and heat island reduction using BIM-based simulations using multiple tools, and using Revit as a design tool collaborating with DesignBuilder and Energy Plus for the analysis.

3.2.3. Energy Efficient System

Smart building skins harness enhanced materials and technologies into building envelopes to make buildings more responsive to environmental variations. The skins regulate heat, light, and humidity, while some can even generate energy. Talaei et al. [52] discussed such systems, noting their dynamic potential to minimize reliance on mechanical HVAC systems and maximize occupant comfort. This method is especially useful in high-performance and sustainable buildings. As intelligent materials develop, so does their contribution to resilient urban climates.
By modelling high-rise office buildings under different UAE green building codes (DMGB, Trakhees, Al’Safat, Estidama, and ASHRAE), the study confirms that characteristics like enhanced glazing, optimized HVAC setpoints, insulation, and ventilation control significantly affect the building’s energy utility index (EUI). Trakhees was the most energy-efficient code, while Estidama provided excellent water and energy performance with good economic feasibility. The research emphasizes that incorporating energy-saving measures, especially in cooling-intensive areas such as the UAE, is essential for reducing operational expenditures and meeting sustainability goals [53].
This strategy demonstrates the LEED credit point that should be achieved: Innovation—Exemplary Performance and Optimize Energy Performance, by simulating energy loads, HVAC zoning, and life cycle cost using BIM and energy modeling software by using the multiple tools, Revit as a design tool collaborating with Design Builder, Energy Plus, IES VE, Rhinoceros plugin Grasshopper, Lady plugin, honeybee and Energy plus, which allows detailed modeling of HVAC systems with performance parameters for the analysis.

3.2.4. Urban Greening

This includes street greenery, parks, green walls, and green roofs to increase evapotranspiration and reduce surface temperatures [54].
Urban greenery and green infrastructure entail the planned location of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation within and around buildings. These systems cool air and surfaces by shading and evapotranspiration. Filho [55] highlighted how parks and street trees play a role in lessening UHI impacts and delved into the advantages of green infrastructure in enhancing urban microclimates. Green space incorporation also enhances air quality, biodiversity, and urban beauty. This is a core principle of nature-based solution approaches to UHI.
Urban vegetation is highlighted as a key strategy in bioclimatic and sustainable urban planning [56]. Green spaces, vertical gardens, green roofs, and urban forests significantly improve microclimates by cooling the city, maintaining biodiversity, and enhancing air quality. The guidelines promote “three-dimensional greening”, urging the incorporation of greenery on several levels of the built environment to lower surface temperatures and heat retention.
This strategy indicates the LEED credit point that should be achieved: Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses (LT Credit), by analyzing the surrounding materials and green areas with simulations using a BIM-based technique through Revit as a design tool collaborating with IES VE.

3.2.5. Green Wall (Façade)

Green walls, vegetated façades or vertical gardens, entail incorporating plant systems into the exterior building surfaces. Green walls offer shading, decrease surface temperature, and help evaporative cooling, which counteracts the UHI effect. By vegetating building exteriors, green walls function as thermal buffers, reducing heat gain in the daytime and enhancing insulation. They also increase urban biodiversity, enhance air quality, and decrease noise pollution. Smart and adaptive green façade systems, as reported by Talaei [53], can also improve thermal performance by responding dynamically to environmental conditions. These living systems are particularly effective in high-density urban areas with scarce horizontal greening space.
Green wall systems—especially hydroponic ones—are efficient in enhancing aesthetics and air quality and reducing urban noise and thermal effects. The research study by Shushunova [57] compares three vertical greening systems: hydroponic, modular, and container systems, and identifies hydroponic systems as the most effective in terms of maintenance and acoustic performance. Experimental measurements that were carried out in certified acoustic laboratories determined that entirely planted hydroponic panels with sufficient moisture greatly attenuated sound over an extensive frequency bandwidth, with the sound absorption coefficient (αw) being as high as 0.75. The research also established that plants and high substrate humidity facilitated increased noise absorption, while dryer panels with high-permeability surfaces were optimal acoustically. These systems play a role in sustainable urban planning by enhancing the indoor and outdoor microclimate and minimizing heat, noise, and environmental stress in high-density urban areas.
Passive design strategy has been influential in energy consumption reduction and occupant comfort enhancement in hot-arid regions such as the UAE [58]. The research highlights the application of parametric design software (Rhino and Grasshopper) in creating a façade that mimics Islamic geometric patterns, where adaptive elements open and close in accordance with solar intensity. These active green façades considerably reduce exposure to solar radiation and cooling loads, improve indoor daylight quality by 44%, and save overall energy by 25%. The façade is built with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and it has shading, ventilation, and thermal protection capabilities in addition to its transparency and appearance. This system shows how computationally optimized bio-inspired green façades can work towards reducing UHI effects and sustainability targets in contemporary urban buildings.
The environmental efficiency of Green Façade Systems (GFS), one of the types of Vertical Greening Systems (VGS), is specially designed for hot and dry environments such as Egypt [59]. It emphasizes the function of GFS in enhancing energy efficiency through thermal insulation, decreasing indoor temperatures, and limiting CO2 emissions and energy loads. The research involves simulation with DesignBuilder software, where GFS installations on walls are compared directly to those with a 60 cm air gap. Results indicate that GFS can achieve up to 23.7% savings in energy consumption and 18% in CO2 emissions and notably reduce heating and cooling loads.
This strategy portrays the LEED credit points should be achieved: Heat Island Reduction (SS Credit) and Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat, by analyzing the vertical greenery systems to assess thermal performance and visual comfort. This could be calculated using a BIM-based technique using Revit as a design tool and collaborating with DesignBuilder, EDSL TAS, Grasshopper, and Energy Plus.

3.2.6. Passive Cooling Techniques

Passive cooling techniques are crucial strategies for lowering indoor temperatures and energy use without recourse to mechanical systems, thus proving to be instruments for UHI abatement. These methods involve natural ventilation, shading devices, thermal mass use, reflective roofs, and evaporative cooling. Passive systems improve internal comfort while reducing the load on air conditioning plants by enabling naturally cooled buildings via well-designed orientation, operable windows, courts, and cross-ventilation. Methods such as applying high-albedo paints to roofs and walls assist in reflecting solar radiation. In contrast, high-thermal-mass materials such as concrete or brick absorb the heat and then slowly release it to average out temperature variation [60]. In warm climates, shading by vegetation, overhangs, or louvres reduces solar heat gain and helps create cooler indoor environments. When implemented at the urban scale, passive cooling can minimize both surface and air temperatures, playing a significant role in UHI mitigation.
Embracing this strategy should achieve the following LEED credit point: Optimize Energy Performance and Innovation—Exemplary Performance. This could be calculated by analyzing the solar path, daylight simulations, and shading optimization using a BIM-based technique, Revit as a design tool, a Revit plugin for daylight analysis, and an OpenStudio—SketchUp Plugin for orientation analysis.

3.2.7. Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation is a crucial strategy for mitigating the UHI effect, which leads to elevated temperatures in urban areas compared to rural surroundings. By enhancing the thermal resistance of building envelopes, insulation reduces the amount of heat transferred into buildings, thereby decreasing the reliance on air conditioning systems [61]. This reduction in energy consumption lowers greenhouse gas emissions and diminishes the anthropogenic heat released into the urban environment, a significant contributor to the UHI phenomenon.
The major function of thermal insulation is to promote the energy efficiency of housing in warm climates, specifically in places such as Taif, Saudi Arabia [62]. It is indicated that using thermal insulation on the external surface of exterior walls improves moisture management and thermal bridges with ease, thus enhancing indoor thermal comfort and saving energy. The study proves that insulation decreases cooling loads in all orientations and helps achieve significant heating energy savings, particularly in winter rooms facing the north. The best insulation thickness depends on orientation, but even small applications greatly improve energy efficiency. Although some research argues about where insulation should be placed (outside or inside), the consensus is in favor of its significant role in minimizing energy usage, especially when combined with other measures such as lowered window-to-wall ratios and shading devices.
Utilizing this strategy, the following LEED credit point should be achieved: Optimize Energy Performance, by analyzing wall assemblies and calculate U-values in BIM to test insulation effectiveness using DesignBuilder, IES VE, Grasshopper, and Energy Plus for the thermal analysis.

3.2.8. Water Analysis

Incorporating water features like ponds, fountains, and constructed wetlands to provide evaporative cooling has also been studied [54].
While not always directly credited, water bodies can contribute to sustainable site design and water efficiency, indirectly supporting LEED goals.
Water analysis is an important component of UHI mitigation measures. It evaluates the quality and availability of water resources required for the application of water-based cooling measures, including urban ponds, fountains, and green infrastructure. The cooling potential of water bodies—obtained through evaporation and enhanced albedo—contributes to reducing surrounding air temperatures, particularly in densely populated urban areas [28]. In addition, blending water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) and urban planning increases thermal comfort and lowers the energy requirement for cooling [63]. To ensure water features work without jeopardizing public health or ecosystem balance, studying parameters like temperature, turbidity, and pollution levels is required [64]. Water analysis is, therefore, a diagnostic and a planning tool while designing sustainable and climate-resilient urban landscapes.
The research underscores the need to assess water consumption under green building codes as part of an overall urban sustainability strategy. As applied to UHI mitigation, water study is critical for planning strategies that involve evaporative cooling, HVAC condensate recovery, and stormwater management, all of which are responsible for localized temperature reduction. The research employed the U.S. LEED water usage assessment technique to compare flow rates, usage frequencies, and occupancy densities. Estidama regulations had the most effective water usage—using only 29% of the reference building’s water footprint [53].

3.2.9. Shading

Providing shade with trees, architectural devices, or structures reduces solar heat gain as mentioned in LEED certification requirements by the Cool Roof Rating Council [44]. This can significantly lower temperatures around buildings. Examples include installing a tree with a canopy width of at least 20 feet or smaller trees with a cumulative shading area of at least 315 square feet, as mentioned in LEED certification requirements by the Cool Roof Rating Council [44]. Shading should be calculated when the sun is directly overhead (noon on the summer solstice), based on ten years’ growth after installation (LEED—Cool Roof Rating Council, 2024 [44]).
Incorporating shading strategies can contribute to LEED credits related to optimizing energy performance and reducing heat islands and Open Space as mentioned in LEED certification requirements by the Cool Roof Rating Council [44].
Techniques include designing and testing external or internal shading devices through solar analysis in Revit as a designing tool or central model tool collaborating with EDSL TAS, Rhinoceros plugin Grasshopper, Lady plugin, honeybee, and Energy plus.

3.3. Potential LEED–BIM Integrations for Unaddressed UHI Mitigation Strategies

This section reports all the UHI mitigation strategies for which no integration was found but potential integrations were proposed.

3.3.1. Cool Pavement

Cool pavements are surface materials that minimize heat absorption and reflect greater solar radiation than typical dark asphalt, thus reducing the UHI effect. They are generally more solar-reflective and thermal-emitting, which keeps them cooler when exposed to sunlight and lowers the surrounding air temperatures. It has been well established that cool pavements can lower surface temperatures by as much as 10–20 °C relative to traditional materials, resulting in enhanced thermal comfort, decreased cooling energy demand in surrounding buildings, and increased durability through less thermal stress [65]. Typical examples include reflective coatings, permeable pavements, and the application of light-colored aggregates or binders. Cool pavements can also contribute to stormwater management if they are designed as permeable systems. They are included in city infrastructure, and this aligns with sustainable development objectives through supporting energy efficiency, enhancing air quality, and improving urban livability [66].
Techniques include evaluating albedo, permeability, and surface temperatures with the LEED point credit SS Heat Island Reduction by using multiple software applications such as Revit, Civil 3D, and InfraWorks.

3.3.2. Blue Infrastructure

Blue infrastructure is the planning and integrating water-based components like lakes, rivers, fountains, wetlands, and canals into urban spaces. These systems minimize the UHI effect mainly through evaporative cooling and moderation of local microclimates. Blue infrastructure can effectively improve thermal comfort in highly developed areas through a rise in relative humidity and a decrease in ambient temperatures. In addition, when combined with green infrastructure, it aids in biodiversity conservation, air quality, and stormwater management. Ibrahim [67] states that the inclusion of water bodies in urban planning has exhibited quantifiable decreases in surface and air temperatures, especially in open plazas and along pedestrian routes. Blue infrastructure keeps cities cool and enhances aesthetic and recreational value, making cities more climate-resilient and livable.
Blue infrastructure involves water-centered systems such as retention ponds, bioswales, and rain gardens to handle stormwater with the LEED point credit SS Rainwater management. Techniques include simulating rainwater collection, flow paths, and storage capacity for model site topography and drainage systems. This facilitates integrating sustainable landscape strategies. These could be calculated through Civil 3D, InfraWorks, Storm, and Sanitary Analysis.

4. Conclusions

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) has emerged as a critical challenge in the built environment, exacerbated by rising temperatures due to climate change. This underscores the urgent need to implement sustainable urban planning strategies and control urban sprawl to mitigate UHI effects. This study presents a comprehensive systematic literature review of existing building evaluation frameworks, particularly LEED, and their integration with Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies for UHI mitigation.
The analysis reveals a fluctuating publication trend, with notable contributions from both developed and developing countries. Most research has focused on residential buildings, followed by office and educational facilities. A keyword cloud analysis highlighted energy efficiency as the most recurring theme across studies.
The review identified 30 integrations between five LEED credit point system elements and twenty BIM technologies. However, seven BIM technologies showed no evidence of integration, and two UHI mitigation strategies remained unaddressed. The most effective three integrations are with BIM technologies such as ‘Design Builder + Energy Plus’, ‘Revit + Desgin Builder’ and ‘UBEM + Energy Plus’ which covered most of the LEED points.
The study also highlighted practical obstacles to implementing LEED–BIM integrations such as the unavailability of interoperability among BIM tools and LEED compliance software, hindering the automation of credit calculation and reporting. Also, no single workflow or framework is widely used to standardize LEED data integration in BIM models, causing variations from project to project. The lack of professionals skilled in LEED certification requirements and advanced BIM modeling is another key obstacle, restricting integrated application. Cost considerations also come into play, as it can be an expensive upfront investment to procure and set up specialized software and train personnel—especially for smaller companies or projects in developing countries.
This study contributes to advancing the understanding of how building evaluation frameworks can be enhanced to better mitigate UHI. By adopting a more integrated and holistic approach, stakeholders—including planners, architects, and policymakers—can develop more effective, adaptable strategies for creating sustainable and thermally comfortable urban environments. These findings provide valuable guidance for future urban planning and building design efforts, aiming to build more resilient cities capable of confronting UHI-related challenges. It is recommended that both designers and urban planners evaluate the new buildings in the urban vicinity for UHI and incorporate measures (such as local materials, urban density, reduce solid surface, increase percolation ratio, and more) to mitigate the effects from the initial stages of the project.
One limitation of this study lies in the use of a systematic literature review, which relies on available publications that explicitly discuss the integration of LEED and BIM for UHI. Future research should explore empirical approaches to investigate unaddressed strategies and BIM applications not yet represented in the literature.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, H.S.U.R., S.A. and M.A.K.; methodology, H.S.U.R., S.A. and M.A.K.; software, H.S.U.R. and M.H.S.; validation, S.A., M.A.K. and K.R.; formal analysis, H.S.U.R.; investigation, H.S.U.R.; resources, K.R.; data curation, H.S.U.R.; writing—original draft preparation, H.S.U.R., R.M. and M.H.S.; writing—review and editing, S.A., M.A.K. and K.R.; visualization, H.S.U.R., R.M. and M.H.S.; supervision, S.A. and M.A.K.; project administration, H.S.U.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Data Availability Statement

Data are available within the article.

Acknowledgments

This study is part of a PhD research project in the Department of Architectural Engineering, The University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Sahoo, S.; Majumder, A.; Swain, S.; Gareema; Pateriya, B.; Al-Ansari, N. Analysis of Decadal Land Use Changes and Its Impacts on Urban Heat Island (UHI) Using Remote Sensing-Based Approach: A Smart City Perspective. Sustainability 2022, 14, 11892. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Sajid, Z.W.; Ullah, F.; Qayyum, S.; Masood, R. Climate change mitigation through modular construction. Smart Cities 2024, 7, 566–596. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Parker, D.E. Urban heat island effects on estimates of observed climate change. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Clim. Change 2010, 1, 123–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Oke, T.R. The energetic basis of the urban heat island. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 1982, 108, 1–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Oke, T.R. Layer Climates, 2nd ed.; Routledge: London, UK, 1987. [Google Scholar]
  6. Zhao, Y. Advancement in Urban Climate Modelling at Local Scale: Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Building Cooling Demand. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1313. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Tonby, O. Beat the Heat: How Leaders Can Work Together to Address Climate Change in Asia; The Business Times: Singapore, 2021. [Google Scholar]
  8. Hussain, M.; Butt, A.R.; Uzma, F.; Ahmed, R.; Irshad, S.; Rehman, A.; Yousaf, B. A comprehensive review of climate change impacts, adaptation, and mitigation on environmental and natural calamities in Pakistan. Environ. Monit. Assess. 2020, 192, 48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Khan, N.; Shahid, S. Urban heat island effect and its drivers in large cities of Pakistan. Theor. Appl. Climatol. 2024, 155, 5433–5452. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Lanjwani, M.U.; Lanjwani, M.F.; Hussain, M.; Sodhar, K. Impact of urbanisation on urban heat island intensity—A case study of Larkana City, Sindh, Pakistan. Theor. Appl. Climatol. 2024, 155, 5875–5885. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Khan, M.S. Land-Use/Land-Cover Changes and Its Contribution to Urban Heat Island: A Case Study of Islamabad, Pakistan. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3861. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Hanif, A. Mapping and Analysing the Park Cooling Intensity in Mitigation of Urban Heat Island Effect in Lahore, Pakistan. Korean J. Remote Sens. 2022, 38, 127–137. [Google Scholar]
  13. Farid, N. Monitoring the Impact of Rapid Urbanization on Land Surface Temperature and Assessment of Surface Urban Heat Island Using Landsat in Megacity (Lahore) of Pakistan. Front. Remote Sens. 2022, 3, 897397. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Arshad, S.; Ahmad, S.R.; Abbas, S.; Asharf, A.; Siddiqui, N.A.; Islam, Z.U. Quantifying the contribution of diminishing green spaces and urban sprawl to urban heat island effect in a rapidly urbanising metropolitan city of Pakistan. Land Use Policy 2022, 113, 105874. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Nuruzzaman, M. Urban heat island: Causes, effects and mitigation measures—A review. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3, 67–73. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Mohajerani ABakaric, J.; Jeffrey-Bailey, T. The urban heat island effect, its causes, and mitigation, with reference to the thermal properties of asphalt concrete. J. Environ. Manag. 2017, 197, 522–538. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Santamouris, M. A review of reflective and green roof mitigation technologies to fight heat island and improve comfort in urban environments. Sol. Energy 2014, 103, 682–703. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Stone, B.; Rodgers, M.O. Urban form and thermal efficiency: How the design of cities influences the urban heat island effect. J. Am. Plan. Assoc. 2001, 67, 186–198. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Shahverdi, A.F.; Mostafavi, F.; Roodkoly, S.H.; Zomorodian, Z.S.; Homayouni, H. Developing a Pedagogical Framework for an Integrated and BIM-Based High-Performance Design Studio: Experimental Case Study. J. Archit. Eng. 2024, 30, 05024001. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Piracha, A.; Chaudhary, M.T. Urban Air Pollution, Urban Heat Island and Human Health A Review of the Literature. Sustainability 2022, 14, 9234. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Ding, Z.; Fan, Z.; Tam, V.W.Y.; Bian, Y.; Li, S.; Illankoon, I.M.C.S.; Moon, S. Green building evaluation system implementation. Build. Environ. 2018, 133, 32–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Chau, H.-W.; Sumaiya, M.M.F.; Wai, C.Y.; Muttil, N.; Jamei, E. Sustainable Mitigation Strategies for Urban Heat Island Effects in Urban Areas. Sustainability 2023, 15, 10767. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Memon, R.A. A review on the generation, determination and mitigation of Urban Heat Island. Environ. Sci. 2007, 20, 120–128. [Google Scholar]
  24. Omrany, H.; Al-Obaidi, K.M. Application of digital twin technology for Urban Heat Island mitigation: Review and conceptual framework. Smart Sustain. Built Environ. 2024. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Zhao, X.; Zuo, J.; Wu, G.; Huang, C. A bibliometric review of green building research 2000–2016. Archit. Sci. Rev. 2019, 62, 74–88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Ibrahim, F.J.M. Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: A Comprehensive Review of Environmental Safety Practices in Civil Engineering. I-Manag. J. Civ. Eng. 2023, 13, 25. [Google Scholar]
  27. Yoffe, H.; Raanan, N.; Fried, S.; Plaut, P.; Grobman, Y.J. Sustainable urban landscapes: A computation framework for enhancing sustainability in early-stage design. Archnet-IJAR Int. J. Archit. Res. 2024, 18, 870–894. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Stavrakakis, G.M.; Katsaprakakis, D.A.; Damasiotis, M. Basic Principles, Most Common Computational Tools, and Capabilities for Building Energy and Urban Microclimate Simulations. Energies 2021, 14, 6707. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Reinhart, C.F.; Davila, C.C. Urban building energy modeling—A review of a nascent field. Build. Environ. 2016, 97, 196–202. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Li, Q.; Quan, S.J.; Augenbroe, G.; Brown, J.; Yang, P.P.-J. Building energy modelling at urban scale: Integration of reduced order energy model with geographical information. In Proceedings of the 14th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association, Hyderabad, India, 7–9 December 2015. [Google Scholar]
  31. Kim, H.-Y.; Gu, D.-H. LEED Certification and Its Effectiveness on Urban Heat Island Effect. J. KIBIM 2015, 5, 30–36. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Corrado, C.R.; DeLong, S.M.; Holt, E.G.; Hua, E.Y.; Tolk, A. Combining green metrics and digital twins for sustainability planning and governance of smart buildings and cities. Sustainability 2022, 14, 12988. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Jayalath, A.; Vaz-Serra, P.; Hui, F.K.P.; Aye, L. Thermally comfortable energy efficient affordable houses: A review. Build. Environ. 2024, 256, 111495. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Michalski, A.; Głodziński, E.; Böde, K. Lean construction management techniques and BIM technology—Systematic literature review. Procedia Comput. Sci. 2022, 196, 1036–1043. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Oyefusi, O.N.; Enegbuma, W.I.; Brown, A. From systematic literature review to performance criteria evaluation: Advancing green supply chain management in construction. Int. J. Constr. Manag. 2025, 25, 249–264. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Masood, R.; Lim, J.B.P.; González, V.A.; Roy, K.; Khan, K.I.A. A Systematic Review on Supply Chain Management in Prefabricated House-Building Research. Buildings 2022, 12, 40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Sarkis-Onofre, R.; Catalá-López, F.; Aromataris, E.; Lockwood, C. How to properly use the PRISMA Statement. Syst. Rev. 2021, 10, 117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Chen, X.; Chang-Richards, A.Y.; Pelosi, A.; Jia, Y.; Shen, X.; Siddiqui, M.K.; Yang, N. Implementation of technologies in the construction industry: A systematic review. Eng. Constr. Archit. Manag. 2022, 29, 3181–3209. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Di Gaetano, F.; Cascone, S.; Caponetto, R. Integrating BIM processes with LEED certification: A comprehensive framework for sustainable building design. Buildings 2023, 13, 2642. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Moher, D.; Liberati, A.; Tetzlaff, J.; Altman, D.G. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. Int. J. Surg. 2010, 8, 336–341. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Masood, R.; Roy, K.; Gonzalez, V.A.; Lim, J.B.P. Ameliorating supply chains of prefabricated housebuilding: An integrated performance framework. J. Constr. Eng. Manag. 2024, 150, 04024044. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Kamei, F.; Wiese, I.; Lima, C.; Polato, I.; Nepomuceno, V.; Ferreira, W.; Ribeiro, M.; Pena, C.; Cartaxo, B.; Pinto, G.; et al. Grey literature in software engineering: A critical review. Inf. Softw. Technol. 2021, 138, 106609. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Phelan, P.E.; Kaloush, K.; Miner, M.; Golden, J.; Phelan, B.; Silva, H.; Taylor, R.A. Urban heat island: Mechanisms, implications, and possible remedies. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2015, 40, 285–307. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. CRRC. LEED Certification. 2024. Available online: https://coolroofs.org/resources/leed (accessed on 3 February 2025).
  45. Sohaili, J.; Yan, L.K.; Muniyandi, S.K.; Mohamad, S.S. Urban heat island mitigation using green roof approach. J. Teknol. (Sci. Eng.) 2018, 80, 41–66. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Santamouris, M. Regulating the damaged thermostat of the cities—Status, impacts and mitigation challenges. Energy Build. 2015, 91, 43–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Santamouris, M.; Kolokotsa, D. Urban Climate Mitigation Techniques; Routledge: Oxfordshire, UK, 2016. [Google Scholar]
  48. Venegas, T.P.; Espinosa, B.A.; Cataño, F.A.; Vasco, D.A. Impact assessment of implementing several retrofitting strategies on the air-conditioning energy demand of an existing university office building in Santiago, Chile. Infrastructures 2023, 8, 80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Amani, N. Eco-efficient green building design: Integrating ecosystem-technology for energy efficiency and low-carbon in a cold and dry climate. Manag. Environ. Qual. Int. J. 2025, 36, 791–814. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Hayes, A.T.; Jandaghian, Z.; Lacasse, M.A.; Gaur, A.; Lu, H.; Laouadi, A.; Ge, H.; Wang, L. Nature-based solutions (nbss) to mitigate urban heat island (UHI) effects in Canadian cities. Buildings 2022, 12, 925. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Sailor, D.J.; Elley, T.B.; Gibson, M. Exploring the building energy impacts of green roof design decisions–a modeling study of buildings in four distinct climates. J. Build. Phys. 2012, 35, 372–391. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Talaei, M.; Azari, R. Smart Building Skins for Urban Heat Island Mitigation: A Review. J. Archit. Eng. 2024, 30, 03124005. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Najini, H.; Nour, M.; Al-Zuhair, S.; Ghaith, F. Techno-economic analysis of green building codes in United Arab Emirates based on a case study office building. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8773. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. Antoszewski, P.; Krzyżaniak, M.; Świerk, D. The future of climate-resilient and climate-neutral city in the temperate climate zone. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 4365. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  55. Filho, W.L.; Icaza, L.E.; Emanche, V.O.; Al-Amin, A.Q. An evidence-based review of impacts, strategies and tools to mitigate urban heat islands. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1600. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Cascone, S.; Leuzzo, A. Thermal comfort in the built environment: A digital workflow for the comparison of different green infrastructure strategies. Atmosphere 2023, 14, 685. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. Shushunova, N.; Korol, E.; Luzay, E.; Shafieva, D.; Bevilacqua, P. Ensuring the safety of buildings by reducing the noise impact through the use of green wall systems. Energies 2022, 15, 8097. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Bande, L.; Hamad, H.; Alqahtani, D.; Alnahdi, N.; Ghunaim, A.; Fikry, F.; Alkhatib, O. Design of innovative parametric/dynamic façade integrated in the library extension building on UAEU campus. Buildings 2022, 12, 1101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. El-Zoklah, M.H.; Refaat, T. How to measure the green façades environmental effectiveness? A proposal to green façade systems technical guide. Int. J. Sustain. Build. Technol. Urban Dev. 2021, 12, 154–169. [Google Scholar]
  60. Al-Shamkhee, D.; Al-Aasam, A.B.; Al-Waeli, A.H.; Abusaibaa, G.Y.; Moria, H. Passive cooling techniques for ventilation: An updated review. Renew. Energy Environ. Sustain. 2022, 7, 23. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  61. Kandya, A.; Mohan, M. Mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect through building envelope modifications. Energy Build. 2018, 164, 266–277. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  62. Alwetaishi, M. Energy performance in residential buildings: Evaluation of the potential of building design and environmental parameter. Ain Shams Eng. J. 2022, 13, 101708. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  63. Shach-Pinsly, D.; Bindreiter, S.; Porat, I.; Sussman, S.; Forster, J.; Rinnerthaler, M. Multiparametric analysis of urban environmental quality for estimating neighborhood renewal alternatives. Urban Plan. 2021, 6, 172–188. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  64. Fletcher, T.D.; Shuster, W.; Hunt, W.F.; Ashley, R.; Butler, D.; Arthur, S.; Trowsdale, S.; Barraud, S.; Semadeni-Davies, A.; Bertrand-Krajewski, J.-L.; et al. SUDS, LID, BMPs, WSUD and more–The evolution and application of terminology surrounding urban drainage. Urban Water J. 2015, 12, 525–542. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  65. Santamouris, M. Using cool pavements as a mitigation strategy to fight urban heat island—A review of the actual developments. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2013, 26, 224–240. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  66. EPA. EPA’s 2008 Report on the Environment. In National Center for Environmental Assessment; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Washington, DC, USA, 2008. [Google Scholar]
  67. Ibrahim, O.L.; Saleem, Y.M.M. Reviewing study of the urban heat island phenomenon and mitigation strategies using available technology. Salud Cienc. Tecnol. Ser. Conf. 2024, 3, 834. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Buildings 15 02523 g001
Figure 1. Conceptualization (Authors’ own work).
Figure 1. Conceptualization (Authors’ own work).
Buildings 15 02523 g001
Buildings 15 02523 g002
Figure 2. PRISMA flow diagram (Authors’ own work).
Figure 2. PRISMA flow diagram (Authors’ own work).
Buildings 15 02523 g002
Buildings 15 02523 g003
Figure 3. Publication frequency (Authors’ own work).
Figure 3. Publication frequency (Authors’ own work).
Buildings 15 02523 g003
Buildings 15 02523 g004
Figure 4. Countries in focus (Authors’ own work).
Figure 4. Countries in focus (Authors’ own work).
Buildings 15 02523 g004
Buildings 15 02523 g005
Figure 5. Building type (Authors’ own work).
Figure 5. Building type (Authors’ own work).
Buildings 15 02523 g005
Buildings 15 02523 g006
Figure 6. Keyword cloud (Authors’ own work).
Figure 6. Keyword cloud (Authors’ own work).
Buildings 15 02523 g006
Table 1. LEED–BIM Integrations for Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies (Authors’ own work).
Table 1. LEED–BIM Integrations for Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies (Authors’ own work).
BIM TechnologiesLEED Credit Potential Points
UHI Reduction 1Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat 2Open Space 3Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses 4Innovation—Exemplary Performance (UHI) 5
SS Credit-Pt.2Pt.2SS Credit-Pt.1LT Credit-Pt.6Pt.5
Revit + Revit PluginWallWall Daylight Analysis
Insight
Design Builder + Energy PlusGreen Roof/FaçadeFaçadeGreen Roof Energy Analysis, Thermal Capacity + Moisture content orientation
Terrain Tool
Site Designer
Revit + IES VE HVAC/Ventilation (Energy Analysis)
Thermal Insulation
ventilation
UBEM + Energy Plus Cooling and heating loads
Revit + EDSL TASBuilding Envelope (it consists of following Roof/Wall/Façade/Albedo/Insulation analysis) Shading Insulation
GrasshopperFaçadeFaçade Thermal Daylight
AftabRad Plugin
Revit + Design BuilderGreen Wall (Façade)Green Wall (Façade) HVAC
Thermal Comfort
Daylight
Dragonfly Plugin
Rhinoceros Plugin Grasshopper + Lady Plugin + Honeybee + Energy Plus + RevitGreen Roof Shading HVAC
Energy Analysis
Ecotect
Energy PlusGreen Roof Green Roof Thermal Insulation
HVAC (Heating + cooling Load)
Revit + ENVImet
Revit + Rhino Daylight Analysis
Revit + H2BIM Revit Plugin Comfort motoring
Open Studio-Sketch Up-Plugin + Energy Plus VBE Orientation
Climate Studio Daylight Analysis
1 https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-schools-new-construction-retail-new-construction-data-cent-5 (accessed on 3 February 2025). 2 https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-retail-new-construction-data-centers-new-construction-0 (accessed on 3 February 2025). 3 https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-schools-new-construction-retail-new-construction-healthc-161 (accessed on 3 February 2025). 4 https://www.usgbc.org/credits/core-shell/v2012/ltc4 (accessed on 3 February 2025). 5 https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-schools-new-construction-retail-new-construction-healthca-33 (accessed on 3 February 2025).
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Rehman, H.S.U.; Alamgir, S.; Khan, M.A.; Masood, R.; Sammad, M.H.; Roy, K. Urban Heat Island Mitigation by LEED and BIM Integration—A Review. Buildings 2025, 15, 2523. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142523

AMA Style

Rehman HSU, Alamgir S, Khan MA, Masood R, Sammad MH, Roy K. Urban Heat Island Mitigation by LEED and BIM Integration—A Review. Buildings. 2025; 15(14):2523. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142523

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rehman, Hafiz Saeed Ur, Sabahat Alamgir, Muhammad Arif Khan, Rehan Masood, Muhammad Hassan Sammad, and Krishanu Roy. 2025. "Urban Heat Island Mitigation by LEED and BIM Integration—A Review" Buildings 15, no. 14: 2523. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142523

APA Style

Rehman, H. S. U., Alamgir, S., Khan, M. A., Masood, R., Sammad, M. H., & Roy, K. (2025). Urban Heat Island Mitigation by LEED and BIM Integration—A Review. Buildings, 15(14), 2523. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142523

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop