The Cooling Effect of Urban Green Spaces and the Associated Health Benefits

As cities around the world continue to grow, urban heat island (UHI) effects have become a critical issue, exacerbated by climate change. These effects lead to elevated temperatures in urban areas compared to their rural surroundings, increasing heat stress on vulnerable populations. Urban green spaces, such as parks, trees, and green roofs, are known to mitigate these heat islands by providing cooling benefits through shade, evapotranspiration, and overall reduction in ambient temperatures. However, the cooling effects of urban green spaces and their potential to improve human health are not uniform across cities or even within a city. This research investigates how the cooling efficiency of urban green spaces varies across different urban contexts and examines the resulting health benefits, with particular focus on how these impacts can reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality.

RESEARCH SUMMARY, 2024, Visiting ScholarsGuest UserMarch 25, 2025Jie Cao

Unraveling the complex relationship between urban biodiversity and humans: A Social-Ecological Framework for Urban Forests

How do social and ecological factors shape the distribution of trees in our cities? This question drove my doctoral research, which aimed to unravel the complex relationships between urban biodiversity, social systems, and ecosystem services. Through a multi-scale analysis of Lisbon's urban forest, we discovered patterns that challenge conventional wisdom about urban ecosystems.

2025, RESEARCH SUMMARYGuest UserJanuary 22, 2025Filipa Grilo

Reimagining Human-Nature Connection Through Extended Reality

My journey to this research began during my PhD, where I studied both the planning of nature-based solutions and the design of information systems to support urban decision-making. What fascinated me was understanding how co-creation processes work at a psychological level — what elements enable genuine collaboration between people and nature in urban settings?

2024, FEATURE, RESEARCH SUMMARYGuest UserJanuary 2, 2025Shahryar Sarabi

Co-Producing a Tool for Climate Resilience in Milwaukee: A Journey in Urban Systems Research

When I reflect on my path from environmental and forestry engineering to urban systems research, it feels like a winding yet purposeful journey. My fascination with applying ecological concepts to urban environments began during my master’s in urban environmental management at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

2024, FEATURE, RESEARCH SUMMARYGuest UserDecember 11, 2024Pablo Herreros

Urban Wilding and Co-Design

As cities grapple with the dual challenges of urbanization and biodiversity loss, my PhD research explores an innovative approach to urban green spaces that could benefit both nature and city dwellers. My project, "Connecting Nature and People: A Collaborative Approach to Designing Urban Wild Spaces," investigates how we can reimagine urban ecosystems through the lens of "urban wilding" and collaborative design.

RESEARCH SUMMARY, 2024, Visiting ScholarsValérie LechêneOctober 17, 2024Mairéad O'Donnell

Wandering Minds, Groundbreaking Finds: Visiting Scholar Research

This winter and spring, the Urban Systems Lab was lucky to host three talented visiting scholars, who have contributed valuable insights and energy to the community.