EPS eLibrary: THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: AN APPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN ON A MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE

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Title: THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: AN APPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN ON A MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE

Year

2025

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149

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Title

THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: AN APPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN ON A MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE

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Authors

Ani Tola; Teuta Peshkopia; Paul Louis Meunier

DOI

10.5593/sgem2025v/6.2/s26.12

DOI Issue

10.5593/sgem2025v/6.2

ISSN

1314-2704

ISBN

978-619-7603-95-8

Language

English

Volume

Issue

6.2

Editor

• Prof. Dr. hab. oec. Baiba Rivza, LATVIA• Prof. DSc. Ildiko Tulbure, GERMANY• Prof. DSc. Oleksandr Trofymchuk, UKRAINE

Scientific Area

Green Design, Sustainable Cities and Architecture

Abstract/ Foreword

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.

References (click to open)

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Acknowledgements (click to open)

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Polytechnic University of Tirana, for their support and for providing the measurement instruments and licensed ENVI-met software essential to this research. We also thank the Municipality of Durrës for their trust and collaboration during the design and construction phases of the new beach promenade, whose institutional support greatly enriched the applied dimension of this study.

Type

conference

Url

https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2025v/6.2/s26.12

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THE ROLE OF VEGETATION IN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: AN APPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN ON A MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE

Proceedings Тitle

Proceedings of 25th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2025

Note

25th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2025, 03 - 06 December, 2025

Type

Proceedings Paper

Publisher

STEF92 Technology

Series

International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference-SGEM

Organization

SWS Scholarly Society; Acad Sci Czech Republ; Latvian Acad Sci; Polish Acad Sci; Russian Acad Sci; Serbian Acad Sci and Arts; Natl Acad Sci Ukraine; Natl Acad Sci Armenia; Sci Council Japan; European Acad Sci, Arts and Letters; Acad Fine Arts Zagreb Croatia; Croatian Acad Sci and Arts; Acad Sci Moldova; Montenegrin Acad Sci and Arts; Georgian Acad Sci; Acad Fine Arts and Design Bratislava; Russian Acad Arts; Turkish Acad Sci.

Pages

105-112

Date

03 - 06 December, 2025

Online Source Type

website

Digital Source Type

10606

Keywords

coastal promenades, vegetation, urban heat islands, outdoor thermal comfort, PET index, ENVI-met.