Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on biometeorology and bioclimatology is gaining increasing importance to address the challenges posed by climate change on human health.

The impact of extreme weather events on human well-being and mortality is a central theme. With climate change, the frequency and intensity of these events are increasing, posing challenges for health emergency management and urban adaptation, such as strengthening the resilience of cities against pandemics through natural ventilation and heat mitigation. The interactions between urban climate, public health, and sustainable design are crucial topics to analyze, especially for mitigating both the urban heat island effect and heatwaves. This can be useful for improving well-being in cities through innovative solutions like green architecture and bioclimatic planning.

Bioclimatic building design and urban planning aimed at improving thermal comfort in cities are increasingly relevant, especially in high-density contexts. This area explores sustainable solutions to improve the quality of urban life, such as the use of heat-reducing materials and the integration of renewable energy. These themes provide opportunities for a collection of scientific articles that respond to both local and global challenges, with a focus on sustainability, equity, and innovation in environmental resource management. But this, to push beyond the current boundaries of research, is no longer enough.

The recent period has seen the great potential of new computer techniques that are shaping the burst of artificial intelligence onto the international scene. These algorithms can open the doors to new and still unexpressed potential in the technical–scientific sectors that are seeking solutions to these issues. This collection of scientific works aims to be a collector of research for all researchers who are applying artificial intelligence, in its many forms, to climate change and its consequences on the fabric of the city, on technologies that can have positive effects on their mitigation, and on the life, health, and habits of the populations involved.

The importance of collecting articles on these topics lies in the need for an interdisciplinary approach that combines studies on climate, health, urban adaptation, and computer science. Gathering updated scientific research on these themes provides a platform to share new discoveries and best practices, contributing to the creation of more resilient and sustainable cities.

We invite interested authors to contribute articles exploring innovative solutions for extreme weather events, the impact of climate change on health, and the development of resilient urban strategies. This collection represents an opportunity to publish research that directly influences future policies and practices in terms of sustainability and urban well-being.

Thank you, and we hope you consider contributing to this Topic.

Dr. Ferdinando Salata
Dr. Virgilio Ciancio
Dr. Simona Mannucci
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Atmosphere atmosphere	2.3	4.9	2010	16.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.1	4.4	2011	14.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Climate climate	3.2	5.7	2013	21.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Environments environments	3.7	5.7	2014	19.2 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Earth earth	3.4	5.9	2020	19.4 Days	CHF 1400	Submit

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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All Atmosphere Buildings Climate Environments Sustainability Earth

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24 pages, 4826 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Distribution Mechanism of Juntun in Fujian Province During the Ming Dynasty Based on GIS and MGWR Models

by Yinggang Wang, Lifeng Tan, Cheng Wang, Hong Yuan, Huanjie Liu and Rui Hu

Buildings 2026, 16(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16010045 - 22 Dec 2025

Abstract

Research on the characteristics and functions of ancient Juntun (military tillage) has paid limited attention to the distribution patterns and influencing factors of Juntun in specific regions. This study employs a comprehensive approach integrating GIS technology and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) [...] Read more.

Research on the characteristics and functions of ancient Juntun (military tillage) has paid limited attention to the distribution patterns and influencing factors of Juntun in specific regions. This study employs a comprehensive approach integrating GIS technology and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model to quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of Ming Dynasty Juntun in Fujian. The study reveals that Juntun were primarily located in flat areas near water systems, while exhibiting a U-shaped distribution pattern away from garrison forts, reflecting a synergy between agricultural foundations and military defense. MGWR analysis further indicates that fiscal and taxation factors had a stronger influence on their distribution than arable land resources, highlighting their non-purely agriculturally driven nature. This research provides a quantitative basis for understanding the organizational logic and spatial strategy of ancient military settlements, offering valuable insights for the conservation and study of military heritage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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21 pages, 7118 KB  

Open AccessArticle

The Cooling Effects of Greening Strategies Within High-Density Urban Built-Up Areas in Coastal Slope Terrain

by Ying Zhang, Xulan Li, Shiyu Liu, Zhike Liu and Yanhua Li

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11054; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411054 - 10 Dec 2025

Viewed by 156

Abstract

The intensification of urban heat islands in high-density coastal slope areas poses significant challenges to sustainable development. From the perspective of sustainable urban design, this study investigates adaptive greening strategies to mitigate thermal stress, aiming to elucidate the key microclimate mechanisms under the [...] Read more.

The intensification of urban heat islands in high-density coastal slope areas poses significant challenges to sustainable development. From the perspective of sustainable urban design, this study investigates adaptive greening strategies to mitigate thermal stress, aiming to elucidate the key microclimate mechanisms under the combined influence of sea breezes and complex terrain to develop sustainable solutions that synergistically improve the thermal environment and energy efficiency. Combining field measurements with ENVI-met numerical simulations, this research systematically evaluates the thermal impacts of various greening strategies, including current conditions, lawns, shrubs, and tree configurations with different canopy coverages and leaf area indexes. During summer afternoon heat episodes, the highest temperatures within the building-dense sites were recorded in unshaded open areas, reaching 31.6 °C with a UTCI of 43.95 °C. While green shading provided some cooling, the contribution of natural ventilation was more significant (shrubs and lawns reduced temperatures by 0.23 °C and 0.15 °C on average, respectively, whereas various tree planting schemes yielded minimal reductions of only 0.012–0.015 °C). Consequently, this study proposes a climate-adaptive sustainable design paradigm: in areas aligned with the prevailing sea breeze, lower tree coverage should be maintained to create ventilation corridors that maximize passive cooling through natural wind resources; conversely, in densely built areas with continuous urban interfaces, higher tree coverage is essential to enhance shading and reduce solar radiant heat loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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28 pages, 7846 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Resilience Assessment and Evolution Characteristics of Urban Earthquakes in the Sichuan–Yunnan Region Based on the DPSIR Model

by Haijun Li, Hongtao Liu, Yaowen Zhang, Jiubo Dong and Yixin Pang

Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10618; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310618 - 26 Nov 2025

Viewed by 437

Abstract

The Sichuan–Yunnan region, a primary seismic-prone zone on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, has experienced heightened seismic exposure due to rapid urbanisation. In order to address the issue of disaster risks and to promote sustainable urban development, this study establishes an integrated urban seismic resilience [...] Read more.

The Sichuan–Yunnan region, a primary seismic-prone zone on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, has experienced heightened seismic exposure due to rapid urbanisation. In order to address the issue of disaster risks and to promote sustainable urban development, this study establishes an integrated urban seismic resilience evaluation framework based on the DPSIR (Driving–Pressure–State–Impact–Response) model. The CRITIC–AHP combined weighting method was utilised to determine indicator weights, and data from 37 prefecture-level cities (2010, 2015, 2020) were analysed to reveal spatial–temporal evolution patterns and correlations. The results demonstrate a consistent improvement in regional seismic resilience, with the overall index increasing from 0.501 in 2010 to 0.526 in 2020. Sichuan exhibited a “decline-then-rise” trend (0.570 to 0.566 to 0.585), while Yunnan demonstrated continuous growth (0.517 to 0.557). The spatial pattern underwent an evolution from “west–low, central–eastern–high” to “south–high, north–low”, with over half of the cities attaining relatively high resilience by 2020. Chengdu and Kunming have been identified as dual high-resilience cores, diffusing resilience outward to neighbouring regions. In contrast, mountainous areas such as Garze and Aba have been found to exhibit low resilience levels, primarily due to high seismic stress and limited socioeconomic capacity. Subsystem analysis has revealed divergent resilience pathways across provinces, while spatial autocorrelation has demonstrated fluctuating global Moran’s I values and temporary local clustering. This research provides a scientific foundation for seismic disaster mitigation and offers a transferable analytical framework for enhancing urban resilience in earthquake-prone regions globally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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27 pages, 16532 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Ecological Restoration Planning Strategies Based on Watershed Scenario Simulation: A Case Study of the Wuhan Metropolitan Area

by Ying Lin, Xian Zhang, Xiao Yu and Kanglin Li

Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10524; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310524 - 24 Nov 2025

Viewed by 244

Abstract

Climate change is profoundly reshaping watershed hydrological regimes and threatening the sustainability of regional ecosystems, rendering traditional ecological restoration planning—primarily reliant on static baselines—insufficient to support long-term resilience under future environmental conditions. To enhance the sustainability of metropolitan ecological restoration, this study develops [...] Read more.

Climate change is profoundly reshaping watershed hydrological regimes and threatening the sustainability of regional ecosystems, rendering traditional ecological restoration planning—primarily reliant on static baselines—insufficient to support long-term resilience under future environmental conditions. To enhance the sustainability of metropolitan ecological restoration, this study develops a climate-adaptive restoration framework for the Wuhan Metropolitan Area, structured around “climate scenario—hydrological simulation—zoning delineation—strategy formulation.” The framework aims to elucidate how projected hydrological shifts constrain the spatial configuration of ecological restoration. Under the RCP4.5 (Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5) scenario, the WEP-L (Water and Energy transfer Processes in Large river basins) distributed hydrological model was calibrated and validated using observed hydrological data from 2016–2020 and subsequently applied to simulate the spatiotemporal evolution of precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, and total water resources in 2035. Hydrological trend analyses were further conducted at the secondary watershed scale to assess the differentiated impacts of future hydrological changes across planning units. Based on these simulations, ecological sensitivity and ecosystem service assessments were integrated to identify priority restoration areas, forming a “five-zone × three-tier” sustainable restoration zoning system encompassing farmland restoration, forest ecological restoration, soil and water conservation restoration, river and lake wetland ecological restoration, and urban habitat improvement restoration, classified into general, important, and extremely important levels. A comprehensive “four-water” management scheme—addressing water security, water resources, water environment, and water landscape—was subsequently proposed to strengthen the sustainable supply capacity and overall resilience of metropolitan ecosystems. Results indicate that by 2035, hydrological processes in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area will exhibit pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with uneven changes in precipitation and runoff further intensifying disparities in regional water availability. These findings highlight the necessity of incorporating scenario-based hydrological constraints into sustainable ecological restoration planning. The proposed technical framework provides a transferable pathway for enhancing watershed ecosystem sustainability and resilience under climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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30 pages, 83343 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Streetscapes on Residents’ Sentiments During Heatwaves in Shanghai: Evidence from Multi-Source Data and Interpretable Machine Learning for Urban Sustainability

by Zekun Lu, Yichen Lu, Yaona Chen and Shunhe Chen

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10281; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210281 - 17 Nov 2025

Viewed by 537

Abstract

Using Shanghai as a case study, this paper develops a multi-source fusion and interpretable machine learning framework. Sentiment indices were extracted from Weibo check-ins with ERNIE 3.0, street-view elements were identified using Mask2Former, and urban indicators like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, floor [...] Read more.

Using Shanghai as a case study, this paper develops a multi-source fusion and interpretable machine learning framework. Sentiment indices were extracted from Weibo check-ins with ERNIE 3.0, street-view elements were identified using Mask2Former, and urban indicators like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, floor area ratio, and road network density were integrated. The coupling between residents’ sentiments and streetscape features during heatwaves was analyzed with Extreme Gradient Boosting, SHapley Additive exPlanations, and GeoSHAPLEY. Results show that (1) the average sentiment index is 0.583, indicating a generally positive tendency, with sentiments clustered spatially, and negative patches in central areas, while positive sentiments are concentrated in waterfronts and green zones. (2) SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis identifies NDVI (0.024), visual entropy (0.022), FAR (0.021), road network density (0.020), and aquatic rate (0.020) as key factors. Partial dependence results show that NDVI enhances sentiment at low-to-medium ranges but declines at higher levels; aquatic rate improves sentiment at 0.08–0.10; openness above 0.32 improves sentiment; and both visual entropy and color complexity show a U-shaped relationship. (3) GeoSHAPLEY shows pronounced spatial heterogeneity: waterfronts and the southwestern corridor have positive effects from water–green resources; high FAR and paved surfaces in the urban area exert negative influences; and orderly interfaces in the vitality corridor generate positive impacts. Overall, moderate greenery, visible water, openness, medium-density road networks, and orderly visual patterns mitigate negative sentiments during heatwaves, while excessive density and hard surfaces intensify stress. Based on these findings, this study proposes strategies: reducing density and impervious surfaces in the urban area, enhancing greenery and quality in waterfront and peripheral areas, and optimizing urban–rural interfaces. These insights support heat-adaptive and sustainable street design and spatial governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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24 pages, 1531 KB  

Open AccessReview

Review of Cooling Effects from Roof Mitigation Strategies Against Urban Heat Island Effects

by Yuanchuan Yang, Zihao Pan, Binhua Zhang, Si Huang, Xiaoying Chen and Tingting Hong

Buildings 2025, 15(21), 3835; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15213835 - 23 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2800

Abstract

The rapid increase in global human activities and urban surface modifications has exacerbated the urban heat island effect, prompting growing scholarly efforts to adopt various measures for mitigating heat islands worldwide. This paper reviews existing literature on rooftop mitigation of UHI, summarizes specific [...] Read more.

The rapid increase in global human activities and urban surface modifications has exacerbated the urban heat island effect, prompting growing scholarly efforts to adopt various measures for mitigating heat islands worldwide. This paper reviews existing literature on rooftop mitigation of UHI, summarizes specific existing rooftop mitigation measures, and examines the comparative effectiveness of various rooftop mitigation strategies in reducing urban heat islands. Findings indicate that cool roofs are the most effective rooftop measure for mitigating UHI, followed by green roofs and photovoltaic roofs. Simultaneously, the cooling effectiveness of rooftop mitigation strategies is influenced by their inherent characteristics (reflectivity, coverage, orientation, etc.), geographical and climatic features (latitude, humidity levels, temperature extremes, diurnal temperature variation, etc.), and urban morphology (building density, height, shape index, etc.). The research status summarized herein provides valuable insights for policy formulation and guides future studies, thereby promoting more innovative designs for sustainable urban roofs to mitigate UHI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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22 pages, 4859 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Native Grassland Species for Application in Extensive Green Roofs in Japan

by Tsukasa Iwata, Ryosuke Shimoda, Terumasa Takahashi and Kiyoshi Umeki

Environments 2025, 12(10), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12100345 - 26 Sep 2025

Viewed by 795

Abstract

Extensive green roofs (EGRs) are increasingly recognized as multifunctional components of urban green infrastructure. In recent years, interest is growing in the use of native grassland species as alternatives to conventional green roof plants, both to enhance ecological function and to support biodiversity [...] Read more.

Extensive green roofs (EGRs) are increasingly recognized as multifunctional components of urban green infrastructure. In recent years, interest is growing in the use of native grassland species as alternatives to conventional green roof plants, both to enhance ecological function and to support biodiversity conservation. This study evaluated the performance of six native grassland species on extensive green roofs by assessing their growth characteristics (cover, survival, and flowering) throughout a single growing season (May–November 2024). We used three different substrates that differed in nutrient level: a nutrient-rich reused substrate, a mixed substrate, and a nutrient-poor perlite-based substrate. The results indicated that most species successfully established across all substrate types, although patterns in growth and mortality varied. Substrate nutrient levels strongly influenced early growth, but their long-term effects may diminish as nutrient dynamics stabilize over time. These findings suggest that native grassland species represent promising alternatives to conventional green roof plants in Japan, with several species showing strong adaptability to EGR conditions. Substrate nutrient management is essential for balancing plant growth, biodiversity, and maintenance requirements. This study contributes to improving the ecological performance and long-term sustainability of green roofs in urban environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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16 pages, 1018 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Improvement Pathways of Carbon Emission Efficiency in China from a Configurational Perspective Based on the Dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis

by Tingyu Tao and Hao Zhang

Atmosphere 2025, 16(8), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16080944 - 6 Aug 2025

Viewed by 896

Abstract

Improving carbon emission efficiency (CEE) is crucial for coordinating economic development and reducing carbon emissions. Drawing on panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2022, this paper selects six key antecedent conditions guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. Then the [...] Read more.

Improving carbon emission efficiency (CEE) is crucial for coordinating economic development and reducing carbon emissions. Drawing on panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2022, this paper selects six key antecedent conditions guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. Then the dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (DQCA) is employed to explore CEE improvement pathways from a configurational perspective, and regression analysis is used to compare the driving effects of different pathways. The findings reveal that (1) single factors cannot independently achieve high CEE; instead, multiple factors must work synergistically to form various improvement pathways, including “technology–organization dual-driven”, “environment-dominated”, and “multi-equilibrium” pathways, with industrial structure upgrading as the core factor for improving CEE; (2) temporally, these improvement pathways demonstrate universality, while, spatially, they exhibit significant provincial heterogeneity; and (3) in terms of marginal effects, the “multi-equilibrium” pathway has the strongest driving effect on CEE. The findings provide valuable policy implications for developing targeted CEE enhancement strategies across provinces at different developmental stages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate, Health and Cities: Building Aspects for a Resilient Future)

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