Unveiling the microclimate: A comprehensive review of tools, techniques, and future directions for sustainable cities

Sustainable urban development necessitates a deep understanding of microclimate, the localized atmospheric conditions within a city. This review explores the diverse tools and techniques employed for microclimate assessment, highlighting their strengths and limitations in promoting sustainable cities and environments. This review aims to provide an overview of the various tools and techniques used in microclimate assessment, focusing on their applicability, limitations, and potential for enhancing sustainability in cities. A synopsis of urban microclimate studies post-2010 is included. For the purpose of this review, a total of around 400 academic journals were considered, out of which 137 of the most recent and relevant publications were specifically emphasized and highlighted. It is observed that the number of high-resolution simulation studies focused on microclimates has surged tenfold since 2010. Despite advancements, prevailing approaches to urban microclimates face ongoing challenges elucidated in the literature. The paper proposes several future research directions aimed at enhancing urban planning and design. These include prioritizing Large Eddy Simulation (LES)-based studies for more reliable insights into localized climate patterns, developing hybrid models that combine physics-based and data-driven approaches, integrating detailed remote sensing products into existing urban microclimate models, understanding the impact of air pollution on microclimate conditions, examining rural microclimates, and creating user-friendly tools for city planning. These proposed research directions can significantly advance urban planning and design by fostering innovative approaches to microclimate assessment.