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Mapping Pedestrian-Level Heat Hazards in Philadelphia

Figure estimation of heat hazard along sidewalk and building level heat hazard
Estimation of heat hazard along the sidewalk and building level heat hazard: (a) the overlay of the sidewalk map on the generated pixel level Tmrt, (b) the heat hazard along the sidewalk, (c) the front-end point along street of one building in the study area, and (d) the sidewalk segments in 400m walkshed of one building block.
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Figure estimation of heat hazard along sidewalk and building level heat hazard
Estimation of heat hazard along the sidewalk and building level heat hazard: (a) the overlay of the sidewalk map on the generated pixel level Tmrt, (b) the heat hazard along the sidewalk, (c) the front-end point along street of one building in the study area, and (d) the sidewalk segments in 400m walkshed of one building block.

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A new study published in EPB: Urban Analytics and City Science showcases innovative urban microclimate modeling to understand heat exposure at the pedestrian level. Led by Assistant Professor of Urban Spatial Analytics Xiaojiang Li, this groundbreaking research used GPU-accelerated algorithms and high-resolution urban geometrical models to generate the first-ever 1-meter resolution heat hazard map for Philadelphia's sidewalk network. The study employed the SOLWEIG model with LiDAR data and meteorological information to calculate mean radiant temperature across the city, revealing that tree canopy cover, building height, and sidewalk orientation significantly impact pedestrian heat exposure. Notably, sidewalks oriented 0-30 degrees from east showed the highest heat hazards, while those at 60-90 degrees experienced significantly lower exposure. The research also uncovered important environmental justice implications, finding that neighborhoods with higher proportions of African Americans face elevated heat hazard levels.