50 years of research: QUT study reveals key strategies to combat urban heat vulnerability
A QUT study analysing five decades of research and thousands of studies has identified five critical areas needed to tackle urban heat vulnerability (UHV), a growing issue impacting millions in increasingly heat-prone cities.
First published 30 August 2024
Recent research has broadened from focusing solely on climate modelling and weather monitoring to include public health and strategies for protecting vulnerable populations.
Other key areas for mitigating UHV include innovative design and planning practices, the cooling effects of green and blue infrastructure and ecosystems, and advancements in remote sensing.
“As urban populations grow and climate change accelerates, extreme heat events are becoming more frequent, posing significant risks to public health,” Mr Li said.
“This increased exposure highlights the urgent need for targeted research and innovative solutions.”
UHV has received increasing attention over the past two decades due to the exacerbation of global warming and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.
This refers to the phenomenon where urban temperatures are noticeably higher than those in the surrounding suburban region.
Primarily attributed to increasingly dense urban structures and dwindling natural landscapes, elevated temperatures from UHIs can affect a community’s environment and quality of life.
This leads to increased energy consumption, elevated emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, compromised human health, and impaired water quality.
Fei Li, School of Architecture and Built Environment.
“Leveraging technological advancements will be key to improving real-time monitoring and decision-making processes,” Mr Li said.
“Remote sensing can offer valuable data to help urban planners and policymakers develop effective strategies for enhancing climate resilience.”
The findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing UHV research, corresponding author Professor Tan Yigitcanlar, also from the School of Architecture and Built Environment, said.
“Integrating urban planning, environmental science, public health and advanced technologies is essential for developing comprehensive strategies to mitigate urban heat impacts,” he said.
Dr Nathalie Bock from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences has been awarded Life Sciences Queensland's Rose-Anne Kelso Commemorative Award, which recognises a scientist’s research and dedication to the health and life sciences industry.