Articles | Volume 17, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-1667-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-1667-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
High-resolution multi-scaling of outdoor human thermal comfort and its intra-urban variability based on machine learning
Ferdinand Briegel
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Jonas Wehrle
Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Dirk Schindler
Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Andreas Christen
Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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39 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Advancements in supervised machine learning for outdoor thermal comfort: A comprehensive systematic review of scales, applications, and data types T. Luo & M. Chen https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115255
- Spatial and severity-dependent controls of thermal comfort across Türkiye: a SHAP-based decomposition of UTCI drivers D. Yavaşlı https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-026-06389-3
- Optimizing urban greening and densification in the context of outdoor heat: Opportunities for AI-supported urban adaptation H. Fünfgeld et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105574
- Evaluating the potential for heat warning systems to account for intra-urban variability S. Ludwig et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000941
- Evaluation of the Urban Canopy Scheme TERRA-URB in the ICON Model at Hectometric Scale over the Naples Metropolitan Area D. Cinquegrana et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15091119
- Blue–Green Infrastructure Strategies for Improvement of Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Post-Socialist High-Rise Residential Areas: A Case Study of Niš, Serbia I. Bogdanović Protić et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310876
- From heat maps to cooling actions: AI-driven citywide hourly mapping of thermal stress, drivers, and targeted cooling S. Jia et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107275
- Digital Approaches for Climate-Responsive Urban Planning: A Human-Centred Review of Microclimate and Outdoor Thermal Comfort M. Mahgoub et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083710
- Integrating Spatiotemporal Vision Transformer into Digital Twins for High-Resolution Heat Stress Forecasting in Campus Environments W. Gong et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X251391121
- Hybrid WRF-ML modeling for characterizing inter- and intra-LCZ microclimate variability: A case study of Shenzhen, China J. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.107099
- Planning for cooler cities: A multimodal AI framework for hyperlocal spatio-temporal urban heat stress prediction and mitigation S. Yi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129101
- A Data-Driven Framework for Optimizing Outdoor Thermal Comfort P. Najafian et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/3140/20/082014
- LUCIDiT: A Lean Urban Comfort Intelligent Digital Twin for Quick Mean Radiant Temperature Assessment M. Baia et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030305
- AI and machine learning for thermal comfort and energy optimization: A systematic review F. Derakhshan & M. Karimimoshaver https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2026.111102
- Introducing new morphometric parameters to improve urban canopy air flow modeling: A CFD to machine-learning study in real urban environments J. Wehrle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102173
- Is satellite land surface temperature an appropriate proxy for intra-urban variability of daytime heat stress? F. Briegel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.115045
- Simplifying heat stress assessment: Evaluating meteorological variables as single indicators of outdoor thermal comfort in urban environments J. Anders et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112658
- Multisensory Urban Climate Zones (MUCZ): A Framework for Mapping Dynamic Multidomain Human Comfort in Complex Urban Fabrics beyond Urban Morphology C. Grapas et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106673
- Bridging objective and subjective heat stress: A human-centered multiscale review of urban thermal experience P. He et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107668
- A multi-stage ROM-enhanced CFD-ML framework for efficient 3D urban wind-field prediction H. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107531
- Mean radiant temperature in outdoor urban environments: From radiative physics to data-driven and hybrid modelling frameworks G. Mihalakakou & A. Romeos https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114595
- Linear and POD-based interpolation of simulated urban wind fields with experimental validation C. Ebert et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2026.106468
- Application of human-centric digital twins: Predicting outdoor thermal comfort distribution in Singapore using multi-source data and machine learning X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102210
- A Methodological Approach Using ENVI-Met Simulations and Meteorological Data for Assessing Thermal Stress: The Case of Athens (Greece) I. Koletsis et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17050522
- Approach for the vertical wind speed profile implemented in the UTCI basics blocks UTCI applications at the urban pedestrian level H. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02835-x
- Walking the heat: why thermal walks matter for high resolution microclimate mapping B. Gottkehaskamp et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/3140/8/082001
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- Bridging Measurement and Modeling: An Approach to Urban Thermal Comfort Spatialization and Risk Assessment in Strasbourg, France C. Delasse et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18091271
- Mitigating urban heat stress through green infrastructure: A climate service approach G. Oukawa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2025.102384
- Revisiting the impact of environmental factors on outdoor public space use: A machine learning analysis of social media data W. Qian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2026.103777
- An expert-based review of Mean Radiant Temperature across ten research domains at urban and building scales M. Matallah et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hssust.2026.04.003
- Deep learning enables city-wide climate projections of street-level heat stress F. Briegel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2025.102564
- Toward the Next-Generation of Heat-Health Warning Systems and Action Plans A. Matzarakis & C. Giannaros https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16080938
- Vertical variations of low-altitude thermal and wind environment across different 3D urban morphologies in Singapore R. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114344
- Machine learning predicts pedestrian wind flow from urban morphology and prevailing wind direction J. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adc148
- Towards Universal Thermal Climate Index Prediction via machine learning approaches O. Veisi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115680
39 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Coupling effects of building-vegetation-land on seasonal land surface temperature on street-level: A study from a campus in Beijing S. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111790
- Advancements in supervised machine learning for outdoor thermal comfort: A comprehensive systematic review of scales, applications, and data types T. Luo & M. Chen https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115255
- Spatial and severity-dependent controls of thermal comfort across Türkiye: a SHAP-based decomposition of UTCI drivers D. Yavaşlı https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-026-06389-3
- Optimizing urban greening and densification in the context of outdoor heat: Opportunities for AI-supported urban adaptation H. Fünfgeld et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105574
- Evaluating the potential for heat warning systems to account for intra-urban variability S. Ludwig et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000941
- Evaluation of the Urban Canopy Scheme TERRA-URB in the ICON Model at Hectometric Scale over the Naples Metropolitan Area D. Cinquegrana et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15091119
- Blue–Green Infrastructure Strategies for Improvement of Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Post-Socialist High-Rise Residential Areas: A Case Study of Niš, Serbia I. Bogdanović Protić et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310876
- From heat maps to cooling actions: AI-driven citywide hourly mapping of thermal stress, drivers, and targeted cooling S. Jia et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107275
- Digital Approaches for Climate-Responsive Urban Planning: A Human-Centred Review of Microclimate and Outdoor Thermal Comfort M. Mahgoub et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083710
- Integrating Spatiotemporal Vision Transformer into Digital Twins for High-Resolution Heat Stress Forecasting in Campus Environments W. Gong et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X251391121
- Hybrid WRF-ML modeling for characterizing inter- and intra-LCZ microclimate variability: A case study of Shenzhen, China J. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.107099
- Planning for cooler cities: A multimodal AI framework for hyperlocal spatio-temporal urban heat stress prediction and mitigation S. Yi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129101
- A Data-Driven Framework for Optimizing Outdoor Thermal Comfort P. Najafian et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/3140/20/082014
- LUCIDiT: A Lean Urban Comfort Intelligent Digital Twin for Quick Mean Radiant Temperature Assessment M. Baia et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030305
- AI and machine learning for thermal comfort and energy optimization: A systematic review F. Derakhshan & M. Karimimoshaver https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2026.111102
- Introducing new morphometric parameters to improve urban canopy air flow modeling: A CFD to machine-learning study in real urban environments J. Wehrle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102173
- Is satellite land surface temperature an appropriate proxy for intra-urban variability of daytime heat stress? F. Briegel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.115045
- Simplifying heat stress assessment: Evaluating meteorological variables as single indicators of outdoor thermal comfort in urban environments J. Anders et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112658
- Multisensory Urban Climate Zones (MUCZ): A Framework for Mapping Dynamic Multidomain Human Comfort in Complex Urban Fabrics beyond Urban Morphology C. Grapas et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106673
- Bridging objective and subjective heat stress: A human-centered multiscale review of urban thermal experience P. He et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107668
- A multi-stage ROM-enhanced CFD-ML framework for efficient 3D urban wind-field prediction H. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107531
- Mean radiant temperature in outdoor urban environments: From radiative physics to data-driven and hybrid modelling frameworks G. Mihalakakou & A. Romeos https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114595
- Linear and POD-based interpolation of simulated urban wind fields with experimental validation C. Ebert et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2026.106468
- Application of human-centric digital twins: Predicting outdoor thermal comfort distribution in Singapore using multi-source data and machine learning X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102210
- A Methodological Approach Using ENVI-Met Simulations and Meteorological Data for Assessing Thermal Stress: The Case of Athens (Greece) I. Koletsis et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17050522
- Approach for the vertical wind speed profile implemented in the UTCI basics blocks UTCI applications at the urban pedestrian level H. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02835-x
- Walking the heat: why thermal walks matter for high resolution microclimate mapping B. Gottkehaskamp et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/3140/8/082001
- Applications of local climate zone classification in European cities: A review of in situ and mobile monitoring methods in urban climate studies V. Milica et al. https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2025-0878
- Machine Learning for Outdoor Thermal Comfort Assessment and Optimization: Methods, Applications and Perspectives G. Mihalakakou et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052600
- Artificial intelligence applications in urban extreme heat management: A systematic review of forecasting, monitoring, mitigation and decision support J. Rui et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2026.108363
- Bridging Measurement and Modeling: An Approach to Urban Thermal Comfort Spatialization and Risk Assessment in Strasbourg, France C. Delasse et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18091271
- Mitigating urban heat stress through green infrastructure: A climate service approach G. Oukawa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2025.102384
- Revisiting the impact of environmental factors on outdoor public space use: A machine learning analysis of social media data W. Qian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2026.103777
- An expert-based review of Mean Radiant Temperature across ten research domains at urban and building scales M. Matallah et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hssust.2026.04.003
- Deep learning enables city-wide climate projections of street-level heat stress F. Briegel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2025.102564
- Toward the Next-Generation of Heat-Health Warning Systems and Action Plans A. Matzarakis & C. Giannaros https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16080938
- Vertical variations of low-altitude thermal and wind environment across different 3D urban morphologies in Singapore R. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114344
- Machine learning predicts pedestrian wind flow from urban morphology and prevailing wind direction J. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adc148
- Towards Universal Thermal Climate Index Prediction via machine learning approaches O. Veisi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115680
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 21 Jul 2026
Short summary
We present a new approach to model heat stress in cities using artificial intelligence (AI). We show that the AI model is fast in terms of prediction but accurate when evaluated with measurements. The fast-predictive AI model enables several new potential applications, including heat stress prediction and warning; downscaling of potential future climates; evaluation of adaptation effectiveness; and, more fundamentally, development of guidelines to support urban planning and policymaking.
We present a new approach to model heat stress in cities using artificial intelligence (AI). We...