Constructing an Ecological Network Based on Heat Environment Risk Assessment: An Optimisation Strategy for Thermal Comfort Coupling Society and Ecology

Dongdong Gao (), Zeqi Wang, Xin Gao, Shunhe Chen, Rong Chen and Yuan Gao
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Dongdong Gao: School of Urban Construction, Fuzhou Technology and Business University, Fuzhou 350001, China
Zeqi Wang: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China
Xin Gao: School of Urban Construction, Fuzhou Technology and Business University, Fuzhou 350001, China
Shunhe Chen: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350001, China
Rong Chen: School of Urban Construction, Fuzhou Technology and Business University, Fuzhou 350001, China
Yuan Gao: School of Urban Construction, Fuzhou Technology and Business University, Fuzhou 350001, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: Urbanisation is a significant driver of global climate change. It increases global temperatures, impacting the health of residents. To date, research on urban heat environments has focused on society or ecology, overlooking the value of integrating the two factors. The research objective is to integrate socio-ecological benefits, explore the construction methods of ecological-cooling networks, and provide reasonable guidance for urban climate planning, thus contributing to the alleviation of urban heat risks and improving thermal comfort. Using Fuzhou as an example, an environmental risk framework was used to construct an urban heat environment risk assessment strategy based on hazards (thermal comfort), exposure (human-development footprint), and vulnerability (natural geographic conditions). The source area was identified based on evaluation results, an ecological network was constructed using circuit theory, and key nodes were identified. Results showed that in 2005 and 2020, 3% and 12% of areas in Fuzhou had higher thermal environmental risks, the proportion of low-risk areas was 43% and 28%, respectively. In sum, 54 ecological source locations, 124 ecological corridors, 76 ecological pinch points, 110 obstacle points, and 12 stepping stones were identified during the construction of corridors in 2020. Compared with 2005, the source area has decreased by 1622.46 km 2 and the average length of the corridor has also decreased by 4.69 km.

Keywords: thermal comfort; ecological network; risk assessment; society–ecology; urban heat island; circuit theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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