The Impact of Architectural Layout on Urban Heat Island Effect: A Thermodynamic Perspective

The urban heat island (UHI) effect refers to the phenomenon where central urban areas exhibit higher temperatures than surrounding suburban areas due to concentrated human activities and building structures. This effect significantly impacts urban environments, the quality of life of residents, and energy demands. With the continuous advancement of urbanization, the UHI effect is becoming increasingly severe, making it a focal point in the fields of urban planning and architectural design. However, existing studies often rely on macro-climatic data and lack a thorough analysis of the thermodynamic properties at the urban micro-scale, failing to fully reveal the mechanism behind the impact of architectural layout on the UHI effect. This study begins with a thermodynamic perspective, exploring the changes in thermal stability of the boundary layer in different urban areas under the UHI effect through the heat flux equation. It analyzes the impact of different architectural layouts on the urban thermal environment. The research demonstrates that urban heating disturbances and the average state induced by the UHI effect have distinct regional characteristics in terms of boundary layer thermal stability. Furthermore, by utilizing spatial autocorrelation analysis and the principle of hot and cold spot identification, this paper deeply investigates the spatial autocorrelation and its evolution in urban architectural layouts, assessing the potential of architectural layouts in mitigating the UHI effect. These findings provide new perspectives and tools for urban planning, contributing to the optimization of the urban thermal environment, enhanced energy efficiency, and improved resident comfort.