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Title: Urban Surfaces and Heat Island Mitigation Potentials

Abstract

Data on materials and surface types that comprise a city, i.e. urban fabric, are needed in order to estimate the effects of light-colored surfaces (roofs and pavements) and urban vegetation (trees, grass, shrubs) on the meteorology and air quality of a city. We discuss the results of a semi-automatic statistical approach used to develop data on surface-type distribution and urban-fabric makeup using aerial color orthophotography, for four metropolitan areas of Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, Sacramento, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. The digital high resolution (0.3 to 0.5-m) aerial photographs for each of these metropolitan areas covers representative urban areas ranging from 30 km{sup 2} to 52 km{sup 2}. Major land-use types examined included: commercial, residential, industrial, educational, and transportation. On average, for the metropolitan areas studied, vegetation covers about 29-41% of the area, roofs 19-25%, and paved surfaces 29-39%. For the most part, trees shade streets, parking lots, grass, and sidewalks. At ground level, i.e., view from below the tree canopies, vegetation covers about 20-37% of the area, roofs 20-25%, and paved surfaces 29-36%.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Environmental Energy Technologies Division
OSTI Identifier:
935715
Report Number(s):
LBNL-747E
TRN: US200816%%859
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Human-Environment Systems
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 11; Journal Issue: 2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32; AIR QUALITY; CANOPIES; COLOR; DISTRIBUTION; GRAMINEAE; GROUND LEVEL; IMAGES; LAND USE; METEOROLOGY; MITIGATION; PAVEMENTS; PLANTS; RESOLUTION; ROADS; ROOFS; SHRUBS; TREES; URBAN AREAS

Citation Formats

Akbari, Hashem, Akbari, Hashem, and Shea Rose, Leanna. Urban Surfaces and Heat Island Mitigation Potentials. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
Akbari, Hashem, Akbari, Hashem, & Shea Rose, Leanna. Urban Surfaces and Heat Island Mitigation Potentials. United States.
Akbari, Hashem, Akbari, Hashem, and Shea Rose, Leanna. 2007. "Urban Surfaces and Heat Island Mitigation Potentials". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/935715.
@article{osti_935715,
title = {Urban Surfaces and Heat Island Mitigation Potentials},
author = {Akbari, Hashem and Akbari, Hashem and Shea Rose, Leanna},
abstractNote = {Data on materials and surface types that comprise a city, i.e. urban fabric, are needed in order to estimate the effects of light-colored surfaces (roofs and pavements) and urban vegetation (trees, grass, shrubs) on the meteorology and air quality of a city. We discuss the results of a semi-automatic statistical approach used to develop data on surface-type distribution and urban-fabric makeup using aerial color orthophotography, for four metropolitan areas of Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, Sacramento, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. The digital high resolution (0.3 to 0.5-m) aerial photographs for each of these metropolitan areas covers representative urban areas ranging from 30 km{sup 2} to 52 km{sup 2}. Major land-use types examined included: commercial, residential, industrial, educational, and transportation. On average, for the metropolitan areas studied, vegetation covers about 29-41% of the area, roofs 19-25%, and paved surfaces 29-39%. For the most part, trees shade streets, parking lots, grass, and sidewalks. At ground level, i.e., view from below the tree canopies, vegetation covers about 20-37% of the area, roofs 20-25%, and paved surfaces 29-36%.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/935715}, journal = {Journal of Human-Environment Systems},
number = 2,
volume = 11,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}