Advanced Civil Infrastructure Strategies for Urban Heat Mitigation: Multiscale Evaluation of Pavement Thermal Behaviour, Structural Shading Geometry, and Landscape Cooling Dynamics in Zabeel Park, Dubai

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in arid regions has intensified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, adversely affecting outdoor thermal comfort, public health, and the long-term performance of civil infrastructure. In desert megacities such as Dubai, conventional heat mitigation measures are often implemented in isolation, limiting their effectiveness under extreme climatic conditions. This study presents an integrated civil infrastructure framework for urban heat mitigation through a multiscale evaluation of pavement thermal behaviour, structural shading geometry, and landscape cooling dynamics, using Zabeel Park, Dubai, as a representative case study. The proposed methodology adopts a multiscale assessment approach encompassing material-level, human-scale, and park-scale analyses. Pavement thermal behaviour is evaluated by examining surface temperature variations, heat storage characteristics, and radiative properties under both shaded and unshaded conditions. Structural shading strategies are analysed through geometric assessment of canopy configurations, shadow coverage ratios, and temporal shading performance based on solar path characteristics specific to Dubai’s latitude. Landscape cooling dynamics are investigated by assessing vegetation distribution, evapotranspiration potential, and the synergistic interaction between shaded pavements and planted areas in reducing near-surface air temperatures. The results indicate that integrated heat mitigation strategies significantly outperform standalone interventions. Shaded pavements demonstrate substantial reductions in peak surface temperatures compared to fully exposed surfaces, while optimised shading geometries improve the duration and spatial continuity of thermal relief along pedestrian corridors. Vegetated zones further enhance cooling performance through evaporative processes, particularly when combined with shading structures that reduce direct solar radiation on pavement materials. Notably, the findings reveal nonlinear synergistic effects, where the combined application of material selection, geometric shading design, and landscape configuration produces greater thermal benefits than the cumulative impact of individual measures. This study contributes a design-oriented and evidence-based framework for civil engineers and urban planners aimed at improving outdoor thermal comfort and climate resilience in arid urban environments. By demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating pavement materials, shading geometry, and landscape systems within a unified infrastructure strategy, the research offers practical guidance for heat-resilient park and pedestrian space design. The proposed framework is transferable to other hot-climate cities and supports sustainable urban infrastructure planning under increasing thermal stress.