Urban Heat Island Mitigation in Turin: A Geospatial, 3D Modeling, and Climate Scenario Approach

This thesis investigates the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in Turin, Italy, through an integrative approach that combines geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and 3D modeling to identify UHI-prone areas and propose mitigation strategies. The research employs advanced remote sensing techniques using Google Earth Engine to collect and analyze satellite imagery and temperature data, identifying regions susceptible to higher temperatures due to dense infrastructure and limited vegetation. Detailed 3D modeling using the Dragonfly plugin in Rhino software enables a comprehensive simulation of UHI dynamics under various climate scenarios. Future weather data projections, generated using the CCWorldWeatherGen tool, provide insights into the potential intensification of UHI effects by 2050 and 2080. The study's case analysis of Turin reveals a potential increase in UHI intensity by up to 4.4°C in summer and 2.4°C in winter under a high-emission scenario. Mitigation strategies such as increasing vegetation coverage and utilizing high-albedo materials are simulated, demonstrating the ability to reduce peak surface temperatures by up to 3°C and improve thermal comfort by approximately 20%. The research framework includes a systematic comparison of multiple mitigation scenarios based on key performance indicators (KPIs) like the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), UHI intensity, Heating Degree Days (HDD), and Cooling Degree Days (CDD), offering actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers. Overall, the findings of this study provide actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers, emphasizing the need for adaptive urban planning to mitigate UHI effects and enhance the resilience and sustainability of urban environments in the face of climate change. The study’s outcomes contribute valuable knowledge for developing effective strategies to address UHI challenges in urban settings worldwide.