Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the intensification of global climate change and the acceleration of urbanization, issues such as insufficient urban climate resilience and unbalanced environmental equity have become increasingly prominent. How to optimize urban spatial form and enhance ecosystem service capabilities through scientific planning strategies has become a focus of common concern in academia. This Topic focuses on the key issues of urban climate adaptation and sustainable development, aiming to gather cutting-edge research results and provide theoretical and practical support for addressing the challenges of various urban ecological and environmental problems.

In this Topic, original research articles and reviews are welcome to be submitted. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Interactions between urban green infrastructure planning, green space layout, and climate resilience, with a focus on urban environmental equity.
2. Relationships between built environment, urban vitality, and wind–thermal environment, exploring spatial form optimization strategies for climate improvement.
3. Assessment methods integrating ecological risk and spatial patterns to support multi-objective urban planning decisions.
4. Case studies on multi-targeted approaches balancing climate adaptation, environmental equity, and spatial efficiency in diverse urban contexts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Wen Wu
Dr. Jing Wang
Dr. Andong Guo
Dr. Jin Rui
Dr. Enxu Wang
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Buildings buildings	3.1	4.4	2011	15.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Climate climate	3.2	5.7	2013	20.8 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Forests forests	2.5	4.6	2010	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Land land	3.2	5.9	2012	17.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Systems systems	3.1	4.1	2013	20.1 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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28 pages, 3310 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Species-Specific Cooling Potential of Urban Trees to Mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect

by Yaşar Menteş, Sevgi Yilmaz and Adeb Qaid

Forests 2026, 17(5), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17050533 - 28 Apr 2026

Viewed by 153

Abstract

It is commonly accepted that vegetation plays an important role in climatic studies conducted at local, national, and international scales. The aim of this study is to examine the cooling effects of tree species in the cities and to reveal how they affect [...] Read more.

It is commonly accepted that vegetation plays an important role in climatic studies conducted at local, national, and international scales. The aim of this study is to examine the cooling effects of tree species in the cities and to reveal how they affect the microclimate in İzzetpaşa Neighborhood of Elazığ province of Turkiye. This study, which was conducted by purchasing ENVI-met 5.6.1 microclimate software, aimed to create the most appropriate microclimate scenarios in order to mitigate the urban heat island (UHI). Among the nine scenarios in which different tree species were used; the greatest cooling effect was obtained from the scenario where Acer platanoides L. was used. It was determined that the air temperature dropped by 0.8 °C compared to the base scenario and by 3.0 °C compared to the scenario in which a tree cover was not used. The lowest cooling effect was detected in the scenarios where Pinus sylvestris L. and Abies cilicica Carr. were used. In general, it was observed that there was no significant temperature decrease in the scenarios where coniferous trees were used. In scenarios where deciduous trees were used, more temperature decreases were detected compared to the coniferous trees. According to the winter simulation results of these scenarios, the daily average air temperature values vary between −0.6 and +0.1 °C compared to the base scenario. In the scenario where Acer platanoides L. was used, where the highest cooling effect was observed, the highest relative humidity rate and the lowest Tmrt value were determined. Evaluating the cooling effect of high vegetation on a species basis in reducing the UHI effect as a basis for planning in urban areas will constitute a key strategy in improving the UHI effect. It is envisaged that this study may provide a solution to help reduce the UHI in studies to be carried out in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

33 pages, 20460 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Urban Thermal Environment in Chengdu: A Multi-Objective Land-Use Optimization Framework Integrating Remote Sensing, Numerical Simulation, and NSGA-II

by Jinqiao Ren, Yanxin Cai, Mingshuo Pan, Luyang Wang, Jiaxin Li, Yi Bian, Kaipeng Huo, Xuan Ma and Jie Wang

Land 2026, 15(4), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040630 - 11 Apr 2026

Viewed by 816

Abstract

This study examines how the city’s evolving spatial structure shapes its thermal environment. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) scheme, we tracked structural changes across Chengdu and its central districts (Jinjiang and Wuhou) in 2017, 2021, and 2025. [...] Read more.

This study examines how the city’s evolving spatial structure shapes its thermal environment. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) scheme, we tracked structural changes across Chengdu and its central districts (Jinjiang and Wuhou) in 2017, 2021, and 2025. We then combined the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with the NSGA-II algorithm. This allowed us to explore links between LCZ patterns and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in the urban center. Results confirm a strong but non-linear relationship between built form and the local climate. Optimized scenarios, respecting practical planning constraints, show that rebalancing LCZ proportions can reduce peak temperatures in the core area by 1.72–2.75 °C. Future plans for Chengdu should therefore limit high-risk compact types (LCZ 1, 3, 8), expand mid-rise and open arrangements (LCZ 4, 5), and preserve or restore natural surfaces (LCZ A–C) to achieve a more thermally equitable urban landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

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35 pages, 5037 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Measurement and Spatiotemporal Evolution of Urban Low-Carbon Coordinated Development Under the 3E1S Framework: Evidence from Chinese Cities

by Xianliang Wang and Shian Zeng

Land 2026, 15(3), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15030504 - 20 Mar 2026

Viewed by 337

Abstract

In the context of the “dual carbon” goals, this study examines the spatiotemporal patterns and evolution of urban low-carbon coordinated development (LCCD). Based on the integrated Economy–Energy–Environment–Society (3E1S) framework, this study constructs a multidimensional evaluation index system for urban LCCD and applies a [...] Read more.

In the context of the “dual carbon” goals, this study examines the spatiotemporal patterns and evolution of urban low-carbon coordinated development (LCCD). Based on the integrated Economy–Energy–Environment–Society (3E1S) framework, this study constructs a multidimensional evaluation index system for urban LCCD and applies a composite system coordination degree model to quantitatively assess and analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of LCCD across 271 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2005 to 2020. The results indicate that (1) from a temporal perspective, the level of urban LCCD in China exhibits an overall upward trend during the study period, with relatively rapid growth from 2005 to 2015, a subsequent slowdown after 2015, and a stage-wise decline observed in 2020, reflecting a transition from rapid improvement to gradual adjustment; (2) from a spatial perspective, urban LCCD demonstrates a certain degree of spatial autocorrelation and an overall spatial structure characterized by a southwest–northeast-oriented axis, with spatial agglomeration features gradually strengthening over time; (3) from a system structure perspective, the coordinated evolution of the 3E1S subsystems shows clear differentiation, with the energy and economic subsystems following an inverted U-shaped trajectory, the environmental subsystem exhibiting a fluctuating upward trend, and the social subsystem maintaining continuous improvement, highlighting the inherent imbalance in the multidimensional process of subsystem coordination. From a multisystem coordination perspective, this study systematically identifies the spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics and subsystem coupling relationships of urban low-carbon coordinated development, providing empirical evidence for a deeper understanding of multidimensional low-carbon coordination processes in cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

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17 pages, 1752 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Township-Scale Ecological Restoration Priority Areas Based on Ecological Security Pattern and Multi-Method Integration

by Tingyun Zhou, Yutong Li, Yu Zhang, Lushuang Lin, Rui Zhou, Aimin Ma and Junying Chen

Land 2026, 15(2), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15020274 - 6 Feb 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 458

Abstract

The scientific establishment of ecological security pattern and identification of ecological restoration priority areas are key for territorial space ecological restoration and people’s well-being enhancement. Although numerous studies have addressed this topic, most focused on regional and urban scales. As the most basic [...] Read more.

The scientific establishment of ecological security pattern and identification of ecological restoration priority areas are key for territorial space ecological restoration and people’s well-being enhancement. Although numerous studies have addressed this topic, most focused on regional and urban scales. As the most basic administrative units in China, townships serve as a crucial link between macro-ecological protection strategies and micro-ecological restoration practices and are essential for effectively implementing ecological restoration and supporting rural revitalization practices, but research at this scale is currently lacking. Therefore, taking a typical township in Shanghai as an example, this study incorporated the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), landscape connectivity analysis, and circuit theory to construct an ecological security pattern and identify ecological restoration priority areas at the township scale, as well as to discuss corresponding ecological restoration strategies. The results showed that: (1) The study area contained 19 significant ecological sources (area of approximately 4.85 km²), exhibiting a spatial pattern characterized by “north–south concentration, central dispersion”. High-resistance areas were mainly distributed in areas with dense human activity and high development intensity, reflecting the significant impact of human activities on ecological processes. There were 32 main ecological corridors with a total length of 58.06 km, showing significant spatial imbalance, with some northern ecological sources at the risk of forming ecological isolated islands. (2) The ecological restoration priority areas mainly consisted of 41 ecological pinch points (area of approximately 27.24 ha) and 30 ecological barrier points (area of approximately 25.67 ha), which were crucial for enhancing ecological network connectivity and maintaining ecological security. (3) Based on the current land use status and spatial distribution characteristics of key ecological restoration areas, a hierarchical and categorized ecological restoration strategy was formulated. This study can strengthen research on identifying ecological restoration priority areas at the township scale. The methodological system established can provide a theoretical framework for ecological restoration research in similar areas. Moreover, this study pinpointed key areas and the spatial layout for ecological restoration, which helped to enhance the level of refined ecological governance at the township level and can also provide precise spatial decision-making basis for ecological restoration of the township territorial space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

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23 pages, 14617 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Study of Urban Ventilation Corridors’ Impact on the Atmospheric Environment Based on Circuit Theory

by Chong Liu, Mingsong Zhan, Xuefeng Zhao, Jianbing Wei, Yuanman Hu, Chunlin Li, Yaqi Chu and Fengyuan Sun

Buildings 2026, 16(2), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16020329 - 13 Jan 2026

Viewed by 741

Abstract

Urbanization and industrialization have led to the coexistence of winter haze and summer heat island in some cities in northern China, but the mitigation effect of ventilation corridors is lack of quantitative evaluation. This paper introduces circuit theory into urban climate research. Taking [...] Read more.

Urbanization and industrialization have led to the coexistence of winter haze and summer heat island in some cities in northern China, but the mitigation effect of ventilation corridors is lack of quantitative evaluation. This paper introduces circuit theory into urban climate research. Taking Shenyang as a case study, it comprehensively employs three-dimensional urban landscape pattern indices (including SVF, FAD, and Z0) to guide ventilation corridor construction, establishes an analytical framework for PM_2.5 and LST, and quantifies the environmental benefits of ventilation corridors. The results show that the corridor generated by circuit theory can make 65.14% of path PM lower than the average level of the city; Among the 7 exit paths of wind corridors, the surface temperature of 4 channels is lower than the average level of the city. FAD is positively correlated with Z0 (R² = 0.7) and negatively correlated with SVF (R² = 0.61). Meanwhile, the circuit theory model identifies eight pinch points along ventilation paths. CFD software is employed to simulate atmospheric environments for six typical building layouts to guide subsequent urban planning. Therefore, the reasonable layout of urban morphology indicators and the construction of reasonable ventilation corridors can effectively control the atmospheric particulate pollution and the heat island effect in summer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

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17 pages, 32456 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on Low-Carbon Reconstruction of Community Public Space from the Perspective of Spatial Justice: A Space Syntax Empirical Study of Beijing’s Baiwanzhuang Community

by Xing Liu and Chaoran Xu

Buildings 2026, 16(1), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16010235 - 5 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 638

Abstract

In the context of urban stock renewal, coordinating spatial fairness with low-carbon goals remains a critical challenge. Existing planning often leads to spaces that are “nominally compliant but functionally ineffective,” failing to support low-carbon behaviors. To address this, this study adopts a spatial [...] Read more.

In the context of urban stock renewal, coordinating spatial fairness with low-carbon goals remains a critical challenge. Existing planning often leads to spaces that are “nominally compliant but functionally ineffective,” failing to support low-carbon behaviors. To address this, this study adopts a spatial justice framework coupled with space syntax technology to empirically analyze the structural defects of the Beijing Baiwanzhuang Community and their constraints on low-carbon behaviors. We utilized a “Moving Snapshot Observation” method to collect behavioral data and constructed a quantitative regression model to identify the key drivers of elderly gathering (a proxy for low-carbon behavior). The results reveal “significant spatial differentiation and accessibility fractures” within the physical space, where structural imbalances lead to systematic spatial deprivation. Specifically, the multivariate regression analysis (R² = 0.50) indicates that low-carbon behaviors are significantly associated with a “dual-core mechanism”: community-scale spatial integration (NAIN 3600 m) and the density of seating within a short radius (100–200 m). A key finding indicates that the driving role of spatial network accessibility is significantly stronger than facility abundance alone. Based on this, a “Space-Facility-Governance” collaborative reconstruction paradigm is proposed, including using green infrastructure to stitch spatial fractures, precisely configuring low-carbon facilities at high-integration nodes, and establishing inclusive governance mechanisms. This research breaks through the limitation of traditional spatial justice studies that focus on qualitative critique, constructing a “physical spatial structure–low-carbon behavior” quantitative attribution model. It empirically validates that “accessibility justice” is a prerequisite for achieving community low-carbon transitions, providing a quantitative renewal paradigm that balances equity and efficiency for existing communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

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27 pages, 5395 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling the Impact Mechanisms of Built Environment on Urban Vitality: Integrating Scale, Heterogeneity, and Interaction Effects

by Xiji Jiang, Jialin Tian, Jiaqi Li, Dan Ye, Wenlong Lan, Dandan Wu, Naiji Tian and Jie Yin

Buildings 2026, 16(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16010029 - 21 Dec 2025

Viewed by 813

Abstract

The impact of the built environment on urban vitality is multifaceted, yet a holistic understanding that simultaneously considers its scale dependence, spatial heterogeneity, and interactive mechanisms remains limited. To unravel these multi-scalar mechanisms, this study develops an integrated analytical framework. Taking Xi’an, China, [...] Read more.

The impact of the built environment on urban vitality is multifaceted, yet a holistic understanding that simultaneously considers its scale dependence, spatial heterogeneity, and interactive mechanisms remains limited. To unravel these multi-scalar mechanisms, this study develops an integrated analytical framework. Taking Xi’an, China, as a case study, we first construct a multidimensional built environment indicator system grounded in Jane Jacobs’ theory of vitality. Empirically, we employ the Optimal Parameters-based GeoDetector (OPGD) to objectively identify the optimal spatial scale and detect non-linear and interaction effects. Meanwhile, the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model is used to delineate spatial heterogeneity. Our findings systematically unravel the complex mechanisms: (1) The optimal analysis scale is identified as a 2 km grid; (2) All elements significantly influence vitality, but through distinct linear or non-linear pathways; (3) The effects of attraction density, road network structure, and bus stop density exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity; and (4) Third place density and population density act as key catalysts, non-linearly enhancing the effects of other elements. This research presents a synthesized perspective and nuanced evidence for precision urban regeneration, demonstrating the necessity of integrating scale, heterogeneity, and interaction to understand the drivers of urban vitality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Climate Improvement and Spatial Pattern Optimization Under a Multi-Objective Orientation)

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