Review on Mitigation Technologies for Controlling Urban Heat Island Effect in Housing and Settlement Areas in Housing and Settlement Areas in Hyderabad

ABSTRACT: The effects of climate changes on urban areas, which are home to over half of the worlds population, are already being felt. One of the problems urban areas are facing is the integrated effect of climate change and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Among the negative outcomes of rapid city growth is the expansion of the problems posed by urban heat islands (UHIs), defined as areas in a city that are much warmer than different destinations, especially in comparison with rural areas. Urban heat island (UHI) effect is a kind of heat built up happening within urban area due to urban construction and human activities. It is identified as the most perceptible characteristic of urban climate. The increase of land surface temperature caused by UHI effect will definitely impact material flow and energy flow in urban ecological systems. The geographical, socio-economic and urban form data of the study area and its resulting vulnerability to UHI were initially estimated. In view of these features, a local spatial planning approach is proposed, and the study proceeds to a detailed amendment of the land use plan, within part of the vulnerable zone. This paper discusses few mitigation technologies for UHI phenomenon that have been developed by Experts. Some mitigation technologies such as double skin facade, shading strategies, and many more are discussed in this study; include the strengths and the weaknesses of each strategy. The focus of the study is mainly on the capability of building skin designing in which thermal conductivity, infrared emissivity, and specific heat factors. Modification of urban environment is due to various environmental activities. Greater Hyderabad is one of the fastest growing urban centres of India. Rapid urbanization of Greater Hyderabad is leading to increase in urban sprawl, densification of core city. The urban landscapes of Hyderabad are dominated by built-up area with impregnable surface. Fast pace of urbanization and associated alteration of energy and radiation balance influenced the thermal regime, along with micro-variation in climatic conditions within urban area. Among the urban micro-climatic variables temperature has played a key role leading to extreme events like heat waves, formation of micro-heat islands etc.