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

From Zurich to New York: Exploring Programmatic Settlement Development Across Continents

In my research, I investigate archetypal developments of settlements on the Swiss Plateau (Figure 1). My arrival to New York City prompted me to think about the potential applicability of my research in the American context.

FEATURE, 2024, Visiting Scholars, Artificial IntelligenceGuest UserOctober 17, 2024Yves Räth

How NYC Flood Risk, Infrastructure, and Social Vulnerability Are Linked

NYC is one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S., and its geography makes it particularly prone to the effects of flooding. As these events become more frequent and severe, millions of residents could be affected, and the failure of critical infrastructure systems (CIS) could have cascading effects, spreading the impact beyond the initial flood zones.

FEATURE, 2024, Visiting ScholarsGuest UserOctober 17, 2024Alex Springer

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

Unearthing Justice: Analyzing Trade-Offs in Daylighting the Bronx’s Tibbetts Brook Urban Waterway

My doctoral research investigates the inclusive governance of urban nature-based solutions (NbS), with a particular emphasis on trade-offs and dilemmas in their planning and governance, as well as the justice implications of these trade-offs throughout the planning cycle.

FEATURE, 2024, NATURA, Visiting ScholarsGuest UserAugust 5, 2024Charlotte Stijnen

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.