Mitigating urban heat island effects through leadership in energy and environmental design evaluation and blue-green infrastructure: Applying the hazard capacity factor design model for urban thermal resilience

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate urban heat island (UHI) mitigation strategies by applying the Hazard Capacity Factor Design (HCFD) model, which was initially developed for urban flooding, to assess the effectiveness of blue-green infrastructure in enhancing urban resilience to extreme heat. UHIs exacerbate the impacts of climate change, particularly in densely populated areas with limited green spaces. This study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations along with sensor data from Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to evaluate climate adaptation strategies, including cooling fog and green infrastructure, both individually and in combination. The results indicate that the HCFD model can effectively assess urban thermal resilience, with R² values exceeding 0.9 for all monitoring points. The combination of cooling fog and green infrastructure showed significant interaction effects, with a conservative interaction effect of approximately 3.97°C cooling at a wind speed of 1 m/s. These findings underscore the potential of the HCFD model to inform data-driven urban planning and improve climate adaptation strategies, thereby contributing to the development of resilient urban environments. Future research should explore the broader applicability of the HCFD model to other urban climate risks and assess the long-term impacts of integrated adaptation measures.