Global Research Trends in Urban Heat Mitigation Research: A Bibliometric Perspective

Abstract Book of the 7th World Conference on Climate Change and Global Warming

Year: 2026

[PDF]

Global Research Trends in Urban Heat Mitigation Research: A Bibliometric Perspective

Erdem Ersayın

ABSTRACT:

Urban Heat Island (UHI) mitigation has become one of the most intensively studied domains within urban climate science, yet the field’s rapid expansion has made it increasingly difficult for researchers and policy-makers to discern dominant intellectual trajectories, geopolitical patterns, and emerging conceptual frontiers. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and science mapping analysis of UHI mitigation literature retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period 2016–2026. A dataset of 3598 peer-reviewed documents was subjected to keyword co-occurrence network analysis and author co-authorship analysis using VOSviewer, complemented by Web of Science analytical outputs on subject category distribution and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified five distinct thematic clusters spanning remote sensing and morphology, nature based solutions, material science and surface engineering, microclimate simulation and thermal comfort, and urban climate modelling. Chronological overlay analysis reveals a clear research transition from foundational measurement-oriented research toward emerging frontier topics including machine learning applications, outdoor thermal comfort, and urban resilience policy. Geopolitically, research output is heavily concentrated in China, the United States, and Italy, while the field’s SDG alignment is overwhelmingly anchored in SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The findings provide a structured roadmap for future interdisciplinary research investment and urban governance.

Keywords: Knowledge Structure; Science Mapping, Urban Heat Island; Vosviewer