The University of Bologna research indicates that hard and constructed surfaces in cities are recognized as the primary factor for temperature differences in neighborhoods. This study was conducted by dividing Bologna into 200 by 200 meter sections and measuring surface temperature, construction, tree cover, and other factors.
Impact of Hard Surfaces on Temperature
Researchers found that the contribution of constructed surfaces to heat generation does not change significantly across different seasons. Specifically, the contribution of this factor is estimated to be 38.8% in spring, 37.7% in summer, 39.7% in autumn, and 41.4% in winter. Areas with high building density and impermeable surfaces consistently rank among the hottest spots, while areas with more vegetation and less construction have cooler temperatures.
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The Role of Vegetation and Population Density
Tree cover has also been highlighted in this research. The contribution of tree cover was 9.6% in spring and 11.5% in summer, but decreased to 6.8% in winter. This change is related to the seasonal activity of plants. Population density also impacts temperature; the contribution of population density was only 5.5% in spring but increased to 19.6% in summer and 35% in winter.
Land use type also affects heat. The difference between residential, industrial, commercial, and green land uses becomes more significant during warmer seasons. The contribution of differences among these land uses rises from 8.2% in spring to 18.5% in summer and 20.3% in autumn. In simple terms, as temperatures rise, the differences among land uses become more pronounced.
Researchers emphasized that this study only examined surface temperature and not air temperature. Therefore, these results should be interpreted with caution. The main pattern indicates that the greater the share of hard and constructed surfaces, the more heat is retained.
Urban Implications
The final message of this research for urban planning is that policies to combat urban heat should be tailored to the neighborhood and season. In summer, green spaces and trees become more important, while in winter, heat from human activities plays a larger role. This research emphasizes that a one-size-fits-all approach should not be applied to all neighborhoods and all seasons.
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