In the heart of urban planning and climate science, a groundbreaking study led by Gülnihal Kurt Kayalı from Çukurova University is shedding new light on how cities can combat the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The research, published in the Journal of Design for Resilience in Architecture and Planning (Tasarımda Dayanıklılık ve Mimarlık ve Planlama Dergisi), explores the often-overlooked role of fringe belts—those transition zones between urban and rural areas—in mitigating the sweltering heat that plagues our cities.
Urban heat islands are a well-known phenomenon, where city centers become significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas due to dense development, reduced green spaces, and heat-absorbing materials. This isn’t just a comfort issue; it’s a significant challenge for the energy sector. As cities heat up, the demand for air conditioning skyrockets, leading to increased energy consumption and higher emissions. It’s a vicious cycle that this research aims to break.
Kayalı and her team turned to satellite imagery, specifically Landsat data from 1985, 2000, and 2025, processed through the Google Earth Engine platform. They mapped land surface temperatures and delineated fringe-belt areas to understand their impact on the UHI effect. The findings were revealing. “We observed that the UHI effect is relatively low in areas where fringe belts are preserved or minimally developed,” Kayalı explained. “As these areas become more developed over time, the UHI effect increases.”
This research suggests that fringe belts can act as natural cooling buffers, absorbing and dissipating heat more effectively than developed areas. By preserving these zones, cities can potentially reduce the UHI effect, lowering energy demands and mitigating the environmental impact of urban heat.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. As cities grow, so does the demand for energy to cool buildings and infrastructure. By integrating fringe belts into urban planning, cities can create more sustainable and resilient environments, reducing the need for excessive air conditioning and lowering energy costs. “Our study emphasizes the necessity of climate-focused approaches in urban planning,” Kayalı noted. “Fringe belts should be evaluated as potential microclimatic mitigation areas.”
This research is not just about understanding the past; it’s about shaping the future. As cities continue to expand, the role of fringe belts in urban planning will become increasingly important. By recognizing and preserving these areas, urban planners and policymakers can create more sustainable and livable cities, ultimately benefiting the energy sector and the environment.
In an era where climate change is at the forefront of global concerns, this study offers a practical and innovative solution to a pressing problem. It’s a call to action for urban planners, policymakers, and energy sector professionals to reconsider the role of fringe belts in creating cooler, more energy-efficient cities. As Kayalı’s research shows, the answer to mitigating urban heat might just lie in the spaces between our cities and the countryside.