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THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: AN APPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN ON A MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE
Abstract
Mediterranean cities are characterized by an intense culture of outdoor living, yet empirical research on urban heat island (UHI) dynamics within these environments remains limited. This study investigates the cooling performance of urban vegetation during a typical summer day across three newly redesigned coastal promenades in Albania. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining experimental, semi-experimental, and comparative analyses the research integrates urban morphology assessments, climatic datasets, in-situ microclimatic measurements, and ENVI-met simulations conducted throughout both the design and post-construction phases. Key thermal comfort indicators examined include Physiological Equivalent Temperature, Surface Temperature of Materials, and Air Temperature. Findings reveal that the incorporation of small-crown, young trees provided neutral thermal conditions only during summer evenings. In contrast, the use of large-crown, mature trees resulted in a 45-55% reduction in thermal stress. The results underscore the critical role of tree species, canopy size, maturity, and spatial configuration in mitigating UHI effects and enhancing thermal comfort at the pedestrian scale. The study further demonstrates the value of integrating microclimatic simulations into the design process, ensuring evidence-based, climate-responsive urban planning not only in the cases of Albanian promenades, but this methodology can be transposed in other Mediterranean public spaces.
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