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How to Plan Urban Parks and the Surrounding Buildings to Maximize the Cooling Effect: A Case Study in Xi’an, China

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  • Tianji Wu

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Xuhui Wang

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Le Xuan

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Zhaoyang Yan

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Chao Wang

    (Xi’an High-Tech Zone Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, Xi’an 710117, China)

  • Chunlei Du

    (School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Yutong Su

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Jingya Duan

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Kanhua Yu

    (School of Architecture, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710055, China)

Abstract

Urban areas with parks tend to have the best outdoor thermal comfort in regions with high urban heat island effects during summer. This study analyzed the synergistic cooling effects of 94 urban parks and the adjacent built-up areas in six districts of Xi’an City using four cooling indicators: park cooling intensity (PCI), park cooling area (PCA), park cooling effect (PCE), and park cooling gradient (PCG). The results showed that 84 out of 94 parks exhibited significant cooling effects, with an average PCI of 1.98 °C, PCA of 51.7 ha, PCE of 6.6, and PCG of 8.2 °C/km. Correlation analyses indicated that the intrinsic park attributes, external buffer zone building height, and building density were the main factors affecting the cooling effect. The park landscape configuration, building height, and density significantly influenced the PCI and PCG, while the park shape and size were crucial for the PCA (positive) and PCE (negative). The optimal park areas for improving the thermal environment were identified as 26 ha (cooling area focus, building density <13%) and 15 ha (cooling intensity focus, building height <21 m, density >32%). This study provides theoretical guidance for planning urban parks and the surrounding areas based on cooling effects, offering insights for future climate resilience planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianji Wu & Xuhui Wang & Le Xuan & Zhaoyang Yan & Chao Wang & Chunlei Du & Yutong Su & Jingya Duan & Kanhua Yu, 2024. "How to Plan Urban Parks and the Surrounding Buildings to Maximize the Cooling Effect: A Case Study in Xi’an, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:8:p:1117-:d:1441086
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lei Zhao & Xuhui Lee & Ronald B. Smith & Keith Oleson, 2014. "Strong contributions of local background climate to urban heat islands," Nature, Nature, vol. 511(7508), pages 216-219, July.
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