ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The Urban Heat Islands (UHI) affect the quality of life and energy consumption in urban settlements. Urban morphology has an important role in shaping of UHI but the knowledge of the specific relationships and impacts of morphology elements on this phenomenon is still unclear. The paper present a method based on technical aspects of data assembly, measurement and estimation procedures to make specific these relationships. In particular GIS and multivariate statistical techniques are used to find correlations between surface temperature and urban morphology aspects. The methodology is calibrated for Trento, Italy, but it is perfectly general. The methodology’s test shows interesting empirical results that suggest some spatial strategies for the urban design and planning in order to contribute to the reduction of the Surface UHI effect. The spatial perspective of the analytical framework that allow direct consideration of the spatial distribution of the UHI effect is finally discussed in the perspective of an intelligent city planning that can neutralize the intensified UHI effects brought about by unlimited growth of cities, raising densities, and climate change. Outlines of ongoing modeling issues conclude the paper.
