The 2nd International Building Control Conference

Healthy Environment: The Need to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effects on Human Health

P. Shahmohamadi1¹, A.I. Che-Ani1¹, I. Etessam², K.N.A. Maulud³, N.M. Tawil¹

¹Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

²Department of Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Fine Art, Tehran University, Iran

³Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Abstract

Climate changes such as changes in temperature and precipitation, sea level, fisheries, agriculture, natural ecosystems, and air quality will all directly or indirectly affect human morbidity (illness) or mortality. One of the great challenges facing our current generation of scientists and engineers is how to protect urban population from health stress associated with summertime heat. As heat-waves are likely to increase in frequency because of global climate change, the most effective interventions, measures and policies to protect the health need to be developed and evaluated. Therefore, this paper is focused on understanding the most important factors of UHI formation and their effects on urban population health with an emphasis on the considerable growth of both population and rapid urbanization of Tehran, Iran. To achieve this aim, this paper explores literally a conceptual framework about the relationship between UHI and human health. Then, it suggests three important strategies to minimize the impact of UHI on human health: achieving appropriate transportation for mitigating air pollution, providing appropriate landscape, and increasing the albedo of building materials.

Keywords: building material, healthy environment, human health, urban heat island, urban landscape