How Compositions of Landscape Elements Affect Outdoor Thermal Environments: Quantitative Study Along the Urban Riverside

Riverside landscape belts are crucial for mitigating urban heat islands and enhancing urban esthetics. This study investigates the thermal environment effects of X21 landscape configurations in riverside belts using field measurements and numerical simulations. The physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) assesses human thermal comfort variations. Main findings demonstrate that the “enclosed tree–shrub–grass” configuration is the most effective plant arrangement for enhancing the riverside landscape belts thermal environment, with grassland identified as the optimal underlying surface configuration. Moreover, PET reveals that “enclosed tree–shrub–grass” spaces provide greater comfort during morning and midday periods, while “shrub–grass” areas are more suitable for the evening. This research provides a theoretical framework and empirical data for urban riverside landscape planning and design, significantly advancing urban thermal environment optimization and esthetic quality.