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Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies...
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Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Biometeorology and Bioclimatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 10945

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gianluca Pappaccogli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, University of Salento, Laboratory of Micrometeorology, S.P.6 Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: urban climate; micrometeorology; urban heat island; thermal comfort; urban canopy parametrization; mesoscale modelling; building energy consumption
Dr. Ferdinando Salata

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Astronautics, Electrical and Energetics Engineering, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00184 Rome, Italy
Interests: building physics; thermodynamics; computational optimization; energy efficiency; human thermal comfort; urban microclimate; heat transmission; lighting systems; environmental acoustics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban areas around the world are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, particularly heat waves, which have a significant impact on the well-being and health of urban populations due to increasing thermal discomfort.

This Special Issue focuses on improving climate resilience in urban environments through cutting-edge research and innovative solutions characterized by interdisciplinary approaches that integrate climate science, urban planning, engineering, public health and environmental sustainability.

This collection of scientific articles aims to promote advanced technologies; emphasize strategies to mitigate the effects of heat waves; improve thermal comfort. Its scope includes innovative technologies for monitoring and mitigating urban overheating, nature-based solutions, and green infrastructure to enhance urban cooling. It also covers urban design and planning strategies aimed at improving thermal comfort, climate-responsive building designs and materials, and the use of remote sensing and data analytics, including AI and big data analysis, for urban climate resilience. Public health interventions and policies addressing heat-related risks are also welcome, along with case studies and best practices from cities worldwide. This Special Issue further highlights the socio-economic and environmental impacts of heat waves on urban populations and presents adaptation and mitigation strategies for future urban climate scenarios.

It provides a platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share their visions, innovations, and experiences in building climate-resilient urban areas. By disseminating knowledge on emerging research, technologies, and effective strategies, it aims to contribute to the development of more sustainable, livable, and resilient cities. Submissions of original research articles, reviews, case studies, and technical notes are encouraged to address these pressing urban climate challenges.

Thank you, and we hope you consider contributing to this Special Issue.

Dr. Gianluca Pappaccogli
Dr. Ferdinando Salata
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • AI
  • big data
  • climate adaptation
  • climate change
  • comfort mapping
  • future projections
  • heatwaves
  • human health
  • remote sensing
  • urban overheating
  • urban planning

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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24 pages, 3586 KB  
Article
Energy Sustainability of Urban Areas by Green Systems: Applied Thermodynamic Entropy and Strategic Modeling Means
by Carla Balocco, Giacomo Pierucci, Michele Baia, Costanza Borghi, Saverio Francini, Gherardo Chirici and Stefano Mancuso
Atmosphere 2025, 16(8), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16080975 - 17 Aug 2025
Viewed by 784
Abstract
Global warming, anthropogenic pressure, and urban expansion at the expense of green spaces are leading to an increase in the incidence of urban heat islands, creating discomfort and health issue for citizens. This present research aimed at quantifying the impact of nature-based solutions [...] Read more.
Global warming, anthropogenic pressure, and urban expansion at the expense of green spaces are leading to an increase in the incidence of urban heat islands, creating discomfort and health issue for citizens. This present research aimed at quantifying the impact of nature-based solutions to support decision-making processes in sustainable energy action plans. A simple method is provided, linking applied thermodynamics to physics-informed modeling of urban built-up and green areas, high-resolution climate models at urban scale, greenery modeling, spatial georeferencing techniques for energy, and entropy exchanges evaluation in urban built-up areas, with and without vegetation. This allows the outdoor climate conditions and thermo-hygrometric well-being to improve, reducing the workload of cooling plant-systems in buildings and entropy flux to the environment. The finalization and post-processing of obtained results allows the definition of entropy footprints. The main findings show a decrease in greenery’s contribution for different scenarios, referring to a different climatological dataset, but an increase in entropy that becomes higher for the scenario with higher emissions. The comparison between the entropy footprint values for different urban zones can be a useful support to public administrations, stakeholders, and local governments for planning proactive resilient cities and anthropogenic impact reduction and climate change mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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29 pages, 19566 KB  
Article
Estimating Urban Linear Heat (UHIULI) Effect Along Road Typologies Using Spatial Analysis and GAM Approach
by Elahe Mirabi, Michael Chang, Georgy Sofronov and Peter Davies
Atmosphere 2025, 16(7), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070864 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 451
Abstract
The urban heat island (UHI) effect significantly impacts urban environments, particularly along roads, a phenomenon known as urban linear heat (UHIULI). Numerous factors contribute to roads influencing the UHIULI; however, effective mitigation strategies remain a challenge. This study examines [...] Read more.
The urban heat island (UHI) effect significantly impacts urban environments, particularly along roads, a phenomenon known as urban linear heat (UHIULI). Numerous factors contribute to roads influencing the UHIULI; however, effective mitigation strategies remain a challenge. This study examines the relationship between canopy cover percentage, normalized difference vegetation index, land use types, and three road typologies (local, regional, and state) with land surface temperature. This study is based on data from the city of Adelaide, Australia, using spatial analysis, and statistical modelling. The results reveal strong negative correlations between land surface temperature and both canopy cover percentage and normalized difference vegetation index. Additionally, land surface temperature tends to increase with road width. Among land use types, land surface temperature varies from highest to lowest in the order of parkland, industrial, residential, educational, medical, and commercial areas. Notably, the combined influence of the road typology and land use produces varying effects on land surface temperature. Canopy cover percentage and normalized difference vegetation index consistently serve as dominant cooling factors. The results highlight a complex interplay between built and natural environments, emphasizing the need for multi-factor analyses and a framework based on the local climate and the type of roads (local, regional, and state) to effectively evaluate UHIULI mitigation approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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20 pages, 3928 KB  
Article
Summer Diurnal LST Variability Across Local Climate Zones Using ECOSTRESS Data in Lecce and Milan
by Gianluca Pappaccogli, Antonio Esposito and Riccardo Buccolieri
Atmosphere 2025, 16(4), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16040377 - 26 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1647
Abstract
This study assesses the accuracy of Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification and its impact on land surface temperature (LST) analysis in Mediterranean cities using high-resolution ECOSTRESS data. Two classification methods were compared: a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based approach integrating high-resolution geospatial data and [...] Read more.
This study assesses the accuracy of Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification and its impact on land surface temperature (LST) analysis in Mediterranean cities using high-resolution ECOSTRESS data. Two classification methods were compared: a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based approach integrating high-resolution geospatial data and an LCZ map derived from WUDAPT. Discrepancies in LCZ classification influenced the spatial distribution of urban forms, with WUDAPT overestimating LCZ 6 (open low-rise) and LCZ 8 (large low-rise) while underrepresenting more compact urban types. LST analysis revealed distinct thermal responses between Milan and Lecce, underscoring the influence of urban morphology and local climate. Densely built zones (LCZ 2, LCZ 5) exhibited the highest temperatures, especially at night, while LCZ 8 also retained significant heat. Milan’s dense urban areas experienced pronounced nighttime overheating, whereas Lecce showed a clear daytime temperature gradient, with historic districts (LCZ 2) maintaining lower LST the light-colored and high thermal capacity of building materials. A Kruskal–Wallis test confirmed significant differences between the GIS-based and WUDAPT-derived LCZ maps, highlighting the impact of classification methodology and spatial resolution on LST analysis. These findings emphasize the need for multi-scale approaches to urban climate adaptation and mitigation, providing valuable advice for urban planners and policymakers in development of sustainable and climate-resilient cities. This research is also among the first to integrate ECOSTRESS data with LCZ maps to examine LST variations across spatial and temporal scales. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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17 pages, 2790 KB  
Article
Development of Visualization Tools for Sharing Climate Cooling Strategies with Impacted Urban Communities
by Linda Powers Tomasso, Kachina Studer, David Bloniarz, Dillon Escandon and John D. Spengler
Atmosphere 2025, 16(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16030258 - 24 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1062
Abstract
Intensifying heat from warming climates regularly concentrates in urban areas lacking green infrastructure in the form of green space, vegetation, and ample tree canopy cover. Nature-based interventions in older U.S. city cores can help minimize the urban heat island effect, yet neighborhoods targeted [...] Read more.
Intensifying heat from warming climates regularly concentrates in urban areas lacking green infrastructure in the form of green space, vegetation, and ample tree canopy cover. Nature-based interventions in older U.S. city cores can help minimize the urban heat island effect, yet neighborhoods targeted for cooling interventions may remain outside the decisional processes through which change affects their communities. This translational research seeks to address health disparities originating from the absence of neighborhood-level vegetation in core urban areas, with a focus on tree canopy cover to mitigate human susceptibility to extreme heat exposure. The development of LiDAR-based imagery enables communities to visualize the proposed greening over time and across seasons of actual neighborhood streets, thus becoming an effective communications tool in community-engaged research. These tools serve as an example of how visualization strategies can initiate unbiased discussion of proposed interventions, serve as an educational vehicle around the health impacts of climate change, and invite distributional and participatory equity for residents of low-income, nature-poor neighborhoods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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20 pages, 4197 KB  
Article
The Influence of Multisensory Perception on Student Outdoor Comfort in University Campus Design
by Hichem Touhami, Djihed Berkouk, Tallal Abdel Karim Bouzir, Sara Khelil and Mohammed M. Gomaa
Atmosphere 2025, 16(2), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16020150 - 29 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1803
Abstract
The user’s experience is critical in spatial design, particularly in outdoor spaces like university campuses, where the physical environment significantly influences students’ relaxation and stress relief. This study investigates the combined impact of thermal, luminous, and auditory environments on students’ perceptions within recreational [...] Read more.
The user’s experience is critical in spatial design, particularly in outdoor spaces like university campuses, where the physical environment significantly influences students’ relaxation and stress relief. This study investigates the combined impact of thermal, luminous, and auditory environments on students’ perceptions within recreational areas at Bordj Bou Arreridj University Campus. A mixed-method approach combined field surveys and on-site measurements across eleven locations within three distinct spatial configurations. The findings from this study indicate that the auditory environment had the most substantial influence on overall perceptions, surpassing luminous and thermal factors. The open courtyard (Area 1) was perceived as less comfortable due to excessive heat and noise exposure. The shaded zone (Area 2) was identified as the most vulnerable, experiencing significant thermal stress and noise disturbances. In contrast, the secluded patio (Area 3) achieved the highest comfort rating and was perceived as the most cheerful and suitable space. Correlation analysis revealed significant interrelationships between physical and perceptual dimensions, highlighting the critical role of factors such as wind velocity, sky view factor, and illuminance in shaping thermal, luminous, and acoustic perceptions. A fuzzy logic model was developed to predict user perceptions of comfort, suitability, and mood based on measured environmental parameters to address the complexity of multisensory interactions. This study highlights the importance of integrating multisensory evaluations into spatial design to optimize the quality of outdoor environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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19 pages, 7730 KB  
Article
Humidity-Controlling Ceramic Bricks: Enhancing Evaporative Cooling Efficiency to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effect
by Xueli Jin, Junsong Wang, Kanghao Tan and Zhenjie Zou
Atmosphere 2024, 15(8), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15080964 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 2364
Abstract
Passive evaporative cooling technology using the building envelope is a crucial measure to mitigate the urban heat island effect. This study aims to enhance the cooling efficiency of the surface of enclosure structures by utilizing volcanic ash, potassium–sodium stone powder, and silica-based mesoporous [...] Read more.
Passive evaporative cooling technology using the building envelope is a crucial measure to mitigate the urban heat island effect. This study aims to enhance the cooling efficiency of the surface of enclosure structures by utilizing volcanic ash, potassium–sodium stone powder, and silica-based mesoporous oxide (SMO) as primary materials. These components are incorporated into the ceramic brick production process to create innovative humidity-controlling ceramic bricks (HCCTs). This study extensively investigates the impact of SMO and the amount of applied glaze on the physical and mechanical characteristics of these HCCTs. Additionally, it examines the water absorption and evaporative cooling properties of the studied materials under optimal substitution conditions. Numerical calculations are used to determine the heat and moisture transfer properties of HCCTs. The results indicate that incorporating 2% SMO and applying 70 g/m2 of glaze results in a moisture absorption capacity of 385 g/m2 and a moisture discharge capacity of 370 g/m2. These conditions also yield a notable flexural strength of 15.2 MPa. Importantly, the HCCTs exhibit significantly enhanced capillary water absorption and water retention capabilities. Increased water absorption reduces surface temperature by 2–3 °C, maintaining the evaporative cooling effect for 20 to 30 h. It is also found that the temperature of HCCTs decreases linearly with increasing water content and porosity, while the temperature difference gradually decreases with thickness. Water migration in HCCTs with greater thickness is notably influenced by gravity, with water moving from top to bottom. Therefore, it is recommended that brick thickness does not exceed 15 mm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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14 pages, 578 KB  
Systematic Review
Climate Change and Occupational Risks in Outdoor Workers: A Systematic Review of the Health Effects of Extreme Temperatures
by Maria Francesca Rossi, Raimondo Leone and Umberto Moscato
Atmosphere 2025, 16(7), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070839 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1313
Abstract
Climate change is one of the most important current threats to global health. Outdoor workers are among the most vulnerable people to its effects. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the occupational risks related to climate change, investigating health outcomes [...] Read more.
Climate change is one of the most important current threats to global health. Outdoor workers are among the most vulnerable people to its effects. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the occupational risks related to climate change, investigating health outcomes in outdoor workers and estimating its impact in the occupational context. The review was performed following PRISMA guidelines, screening three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus). Studies written in English or Italian languages, performed on outdoor workers, assessing occupational risks linked to climate change, and reporting on health outcomes were included. A quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Thirteen studies were included in the review, performed mostly on construction (seven studies, 53.8%) and agricultural (five studies, 38.5%) workers. Twelve of the included studies (92.3%) reported on occupational risks related to heat stress, one on the effects of cold weather. Four studies (30.8%) reported a high prevalence of heat-related symptoms, ranging from 64.0% to 90.3% of workers. This systematic review highlights heat-related stress in outdoor workers as an important occupational risk, but it also underlines an important gap in scientific knowledge regarding other occupational risks relating to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies on Climate Change in Urban Areas: Emerging Technologies and Strategies to Address Heat Waves and Improve Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort)
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