Existing urban residential buildings contribute substantially to operational energy use and carbon emissions in the building sector, making low-carbon retrofitting a key approach to improving the performance of the existing housing stock. This study conducts a bibliometric and systematic review of research on low-carbon retrofitting of existing urban residential buildings in China. Journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus, and 91 studies were retained after screening. Bibliometric analysis was used to examine annual publication trends, source distribution, keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution, and organizational collaboration. The systematic review further synthesised evidence on retrofit policies, technical measures, and performance evaluation methods. The results indicate a clear increase in publications in recent years, with research attention shifting from basic energy-saving measures towards multi-objective optimization, carbon reduction, and thermal comfort improvement. The review suggests that China’s residential retrofit policies can be understood as a multi-level framework supporting retrofit implementation. Retrofit strategies have gradually shifted from individual measures towards integrated retrofit packages, while performance evaluation has expanded from energy-saving assessment to broader considerations of carbon emissions, occupant comfort, and economic feasibility. The review highlights the need for more consistent evaluation boundaries, stronger integration of lifecycle carbon accounting and occupant behaviour, and climate-responsive retrofit strategies. These findings provide a structured basis for comparing retrofit approaches, strengthening the connection between policy and technology, and supporting decision-making in large-scale residential retrofit programmes.

Studies have assessed the individual effects of global warming and urbanization on urban thermal stress, yet the synergistic effects of global warming interacting with both urban expansion and intensification in the urbanization process on surface urban heat island (SUHI) have not been clarified. To analyze these synergy effects, we propose an integrated predictive framework that couples an improved PLUS model for Local Climate Zone (LCZ) transitions and a machine learning-based land surface temperature (LST) prediction module incorporating the global warming signal. Applied to the Wuhan Metropolitan Area (WMA), the proposed framework simulated LCZ and LST patterns from 2020 to 2030 under five scenarios. Utilizing the summer mean LST, near-surface air temperature, and LCZ maps from 2005 to 2020 as training data, the prediction model achieved an R2 of 0.82 and RMSE of 0.70 degrees C. The contributions of urbanization and global warming to the increase of LST from 2020 to 2030 in the Natural Growth Scenario (NGS) are found to be 3.93 degrees C and 1.59 degrees C, respectively. The scenario analysis on the spatial variations on the SUHI changes via LCZ reveals that the environmental protection scenario (EPS) associated with the lowest SUHI increase, while the urban development scenario (UDS) corresponds to the highest warming with the spatial-average LST rising up to 0.82 degrees C in urban LCZ. Targeted strategies are then proposed to alleviate thermal risks and enhance climate resilience in the WMA. This study provides a scientific foundation for designing sustainable urban interventions and climate-resilient development policies amid compound environmental challenges.

Urban air mobility (UAM) is increasingly discussed as a complement to congested surface transport, but its implementation depends on vertiports that can be planned, designed and integrated within dense urban environments. Existing research remains fragmented across aviation engineering, transport modelling and urban planning, leaving limited synthesis of how siting, physical design and ground-transport integration interact. This study examines the physical planning of UAM vertiports and identifies the urban constraints shaping their implementation. Using a scoping-review design, the study analysed 81 peer-reviewed publications published between 2015 and 2025, combining bibliometric mapping with qualitative synthesis. The results suggest that vertiport research is gradually expanding from simplified coverage and clearance models towards approaches that address demand uncertainty, land-use compatibility, noise, wind, equity and multimodal access. However, the literature still provides limited guidance on translating these constraints into transferable design parameters, particularly for rooftop operations, charging layouts, passenger transfer and governance across planning scales. The review contributes an integrated perspective linking network-level siting, neighbourhood constraints, building-scale design and terminal/user experience, and clarifies priorities for future empirical, regulatory and design research.

World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) provides a prevailing workflow for mapping Local Climate Zones (LCZs) based on a supervised machine learning method. Yet, the low accuracy and numerous iterations caused by labelling uncertainty in heterogeneous urban context were still obstacles for its application. In this study, the cognitive experiments on labelling uncertainty for LCZ mapping were conducted over Wuhan, China. The multi-source geospatial data and LCZ subclasses cognition were introduced for pre-recognition on training areas (TAs). Sixty-four participants were randomly allocated into four equal-sized teams, with each team exclusively assessing the mapping accuracy of a designated scenario under a restricted protocol of nine iterations. Validated through randomized point sampling, the scenario set for mapping LCZ with subclass recognition show optimal performance, that it can achieve the overall accuracy (OA) of 83 % at five iterations, and reach up to OA of 89 %. This study highlights the critical role of LCZ subclasses cognition in improving mapping accuracy, and proposed an extended workflow of WUDAPT specific for heterogeneous megacities in China. The novel workflow improves LCZ classification accuracy while minimizing iterations in heterogeneous urban context, thereby supporting LCZ-based studies through reliable descriptions on the climate-related urban forms in Chinese megacities.

The rapid urbanization has led to serious air pollution issues, making it crucial to effectively reduce respiratory health risks for the health of urban residents. This paper proposes an approach for adopting the PM2.5 personal intake fraction (PIF) in neighborhood street to assess respiratory health risks by considering pollutant concentrations along with the behavior patterns of three subgroups (i.e., pedestrians, cyclists, and shop vendors). PIF was indirectly predicted by combining computer vision and computational fluid dynamics simulations based on the discrete phase model. Fifty-one configurations with different building densities, porosity (dimensions of setbacks and podiums), and height variability were examined. This study found significant differences in exposure levels and behavior heterogeneity among subgroups, with risk assessment results varying under different street cross-section scenarios. From the perspective of respiratory health, the recommendations involved modify the street cross-section through setting business interface for vendors, excessive sidewalk expansion for pedestrian and cyclists, and the building configurations of the adjacent street blocks according to the street orientation to minimizing the PIF. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of street and building configurations on respiratory health risks in neighborhood street, and this assessment framework can be partially applied to other types of streets.

Many studies have been conducted on the effects of color, light, and signage location on the visual saliency of underground signage. However, few studies have investigated the influence of indoor visual environments on the saliency of pedestrian signage. To explore the factors that influence the visual saliency of signage in metro stations, we developed a novel analysis method using a combination of saliency and focus maps. Then, questionnaires were utilized to unify the various formats of results from the saliency and focus maps. The factors that influence the visual saliency of signage were explored using the proposed method at selected sites and validated through virtual reality experiments. Additionally, this study proposes an image-analysis-based method that reveals the multilevel factors affecting pedestrian attention to signage in underground metro stations, including spatial interfaces, crowd flow, and ambient light. The results indicate that crowd flow has the greatest impact on pedestrian attention to signage. The study’s findings underscore the significance of considering pedestrian dynamics in the design of railway stations, which is crucial for delivering a high-quality subway experience.

Studies have focused on evaluating and optimizing sponge city (SPC) performance, yet few have examined the cost efficiency of low-impact development (LID) layouts within SPCs at the project scale while considering varying storm frequencies and terrain slopes. This study investigated the hydrological response to storm events on a university campus in Wuhan, China. Using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) 5.2, two distinct design variants were simulated: Variant A treats the study area as a single entity, whereas Variant B considers 20 subcatchments. Each variant was further subdivided into scenarios featuring 30

The Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification has been widely applied to explore urban outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) patterns at the city scale. However, its applicability to represent microscale thermal conditions within individual LCZs remains underexplored. This study evaluates the applicability of LCZ morphological properties for microscale OTC assessment, using a typical open mid-rise residential area (LCZ5) in Wuhan, China, as a case study to assess the spatial variability of OTC within a LCZ. A hierarchical clustering method was used to classify different microscale spatial units, followed by correlation and multiple regression analyses to examine the relationships between LCZ morphological parameters and three objective thermal indices (PET, UTCI, SET*).. Results showed substantial spatial variability in OTC conditions within the LCZ, despite relatively uniform air temperatures. Among all parameters, the sky view factor showed the strongest correlation with thermal indices, underscoring the critical role of solar exposure. Building height and surface fraction were also significantly associated with shading effects, thus the OTC of LCZ5. The regression models explained up to 82% of the variance in mean OTC, with different LCZ parameters showing optimal influence at distinct spatial radii. Based on these findings, we propose suggestions for microscale OTC prediction using LCZ classifications, emphasizing careful site selection to ensure representative measurements, facilitating the practical application of LCZ concepts in climate-sensitive urban planning at street and block scales.

In hot-summer and cold-winter regions,high-rise office buildings exhibit high energy con-sumption intensity,and the design of photovoltaic facades holds significant energy-saving potential.However,many design parameters pose complexity in their impact on building energy consumption and power generation.Therefore,based on surveys of 43 high-rise office buildings in hot-summer and cold-winter regions(using Wuhan as an example),typical models of high-rise office building facades were established using ArchiCad software.Coupled with EcoDesigner and PVsyst software,energy consump-tion and power generation simulations were conducted to explore the influence of building morphology(orientation,standard floor area,floor height,planar aspect ratio),window-to-wall ratio,and three types of photovoltaic facade forms(vertical surface protrusion,triangular protrusion,and sunshade)on building energy consumption and power generation.The results indicated that:1)among the three types of design parameters considered in this study,the photovoltaic facade forms had the most significant impact on comprehensive energy consumption,with an energy-saving rate ranging from 23.86％to-2.15％,while building form design parameters had the least significant effect on comprehensive energy consumption,with variations of only 1.4％to-0.89％.;2)in the design of photovoltaic facades,more attention should be paid to increasing the area of the photovoltaic facade rather than enhancing the inten-sity of annual solar irradiation;3)on the premise of identical photovoltaic facade forms and satisfied ven-tilation/daylighting requirements,the energy-saving effect increased as the window-to-wall ratio decreased.

The unbridled expansion of urban development in China has created unsustainable challenges in the management of urban rainwater. In response, the Chinese government has endorsed sponge city (SPC) theory as a sustainable urban development model that aims to enhance urban planning, construction, and sustainable wastewater management. However, despite the issuance of policies and regulations, the envisioned SPC goals remain difficult to achieve in current implementations. This review paper proposes an idealized SPC strategy model that can be adopted by pilot cities in China. This model was developed by thoroughly analyzing policy requirements and in-field achievements, evaluating diverse implementation scenarios, and contrasting the outcomes in three different pilot cities in China. The demonstrated success of city construction has highlighted the potential to simultaneously achieve multiple objectives, including conserving urban water resources, enhancing urban water quality, ensuring water safety, and revitalizing urban water ecosystems. This review supports the use of a planning approach that integrates the drainage division, aligns with project-specific conditions and emphasizes the importance of low-impact development (LID) facility placement within drainage zones. Consequently, this study calls for exploring the impact of catchment topography on LID performance. Finally, the results of this study highlight the necessity of investigating precipitation variations among LID facilities during rainfall events and exploring cost-effective material alternatives to improve the effectiveness of SPC implementations. Contribution to SPC, an idealized stratgy model was proposed.SPC implementation in three different pilot cities were assessed and compared.The groundwater depth affects strategy selection of LID.Integrated planning, LID placement, and the impact of topography on LID should be emphasized for effective SPCs.

Studies have been conducted on the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) estimation methods using globe thermometers for measuring outdoor thermal environments in various climate regions. Yet, given the unique thermal environments of semi-outdoor spaces, these Tmrt estimation methods may not be appropriate for the spaces with shading effects. This study aims to assess the thermometric and radiative methods for Tmrt estimation in semioutdoor spaces in humid sub-tropical climates, taking data from six-directional radiation measurements as validations. During the typical summer and winter days in Wuhan, China, the measurements were carried out in semi-outdoor spaces facing south and west, with an open square for comparison, including air temperature, humidity, wind velocity, black-globe temperature, and long- and short-wavelength radiation fluxes obtained from four-component net radiometers. It was found the maximum mean deviation of diurnal Tmrt values estimated by the black-globe thermometer method in semi-outdoor spaces was 7.1 degrees C, which exceeded the threshold required by ISO7726, where the shortwave radiation was regarded as the dominant interference factor. To improve the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of Tmrt estimation, we proposed linear empirical equations to calibrate the Tmrt estimated by black-global thermometer method that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the Tmrt deviations can generally vary from 2.22 to 2.72 degrees C. Contributing to the thermal comfort research, this study proposed an empirical method for estimating Tmrt in semi-outdoor spaces in humid subtropical climates, which can generate satisfactory results in accordance with ISO7726 standards with cost-effective instrumentation.

Urbanization presents significant challenges to air quality and climate resilience, necessitating pioneering urban design solutions to enhance air circulation and mitigate pollutants. This urgency intensifies in densely populated and rapidly evolving regions like Wuhan, China, where effective strategies are crucial for sustainable development. This study introduces an innovative 3D Urban Form Optimization (3D-UFO) methodology aimed at advancing urban block design configurations to improve urbanization quality. The 3D-UFO approach systematically addresses the multifaceted challenges of climate change and air quality degradation in rapidly urbanizing areas. Integrating GIS-based analysis for comprehensive Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LULCC) evaluation with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), our approach employs systematic exploration guided by established urban airflow study protocols. Robust metrics—Airspeed-Ratio (ASR) and Average-Age-of-Local-Air (ALA)—quantify the impact of diverse urban block design strategies on air-circulation efficiency and pollutant dispersion. Analysis across various urban scenarios, yielded by the proposed 3D-UFO approach, reveal significant variations in air-circulation efficiency at street and building levels (SBLs). Optimal urban air circulation achieves efficiency levels of 50-70% when airflow aligns orthogonally across and parallel to streets. Adjusting street-level building heights, especially incorporating taller structures, boosts ventilation efficiency by 20-30%, which is crucial for improving airflow dynamics in urban settings. Higher Height-to-Width (H/W) ratios (>5.5) yield a 218.5% increase in ventilation in specific urban layouts. Notably, the synergy of street-aspect-ratio and building-height-ratio adjustments significantly enhance ASR and ALA, providing a quantitative foundation for sustainable urban development. This 3D-UFO methodology, fusing LULCC analysis, CFD simulations, and systematic exploration, emerge as a valuable framework for urban planners and designers. The study offers informed insights into urban sustainability challenges, demonstrating advancements in addressing environmental concerns and improving living conditions within densely populated environments.

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Wayfinding signage is an intermediary public facility that coordinates the relationship between space and people, and it is crucial to help people find their way in complex indoor environments. In people’s cognitive behaviour towards wayfinding signs, the visual salience of the signs is the prerequisite and key to ensuring their effective operation. This paper aims to review published research articles on the effect of indoor environments on the saliency of wayfinding signs. The literature review was conducted by PICO methodology to formulate the research question and develop search strategies. Relevant research articles were identified by systematically searching electronic databases, including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and EBSCO. This paper summarises two categories of factors influencing signage salience: (1) floor plan factors and (2) environmental factors. This study examined and condensed the attributes of wayfinding signage and their impact on how pedestrians perceive visuals while navigating. Exploring the elements that influence the visual prominence of indoor signs enhances our comprehension of how pedestrians engage with visually guided information indoors. Furthermore, this offers a theoretical foundation for the realm of indoor wayfinding.

Urban flooding is a major problem for large cities around the world. Rapid urbanization in China has tremendously increased, resulting in more frequent incidences of urban flooding. In 2013, China launched a program of 30 pilot sponge cities (SPCs) to establish integrated urban stormwater management. However, today, after several years of implementation, some sponge cities still experience flooding. This study provides answers and solutions to these problems, by evaluating the overall performance of SPC in China from a systematic perspective considering the variable climatic conditions. This paper also highlights the limitations associated with implementing the current SPC. The adoption of overseas models, before adhering them to Chinese catchment properties, has generated significant uncertainty for simulation outputs and material provision challenges at various stages of the implementation process. Furthermore, hydrological connectivity between neighboring catchments has been neglected in most SPC projects. Developing local models based on local conditions and needs would address these issues and open new research windows for exploring more effective stormwater management initiatives. That includes the advancement of cost-effective evaluation studies, modern optimum efficiency design studies, and the analysis of groundwater contamination due to high infiltration rates and so on.

Urbanization causes various climate-related environmental problems, such as the urban heat island phenomenon and extreme weather. As such, the outdoor thermal environment is worsening in cities, and researchers are increasingly concerned with mitigation measures. Here, we investigated the influence of a major railway station and the Yangtze River on the local thermal environment in a city with a subtropical climate. Field measurements were performed in Wuhan, China, from 21 July 2017, to 25 July 2017. The cooling effect of the Yangtze River modulated the surrounding urban environment substantially at night, especially in areas closer to the river border. During the afternoon, areas farther from the railway station experienced higher temperatures, that meant railway station showed a cooling effect. By contrast, at night, the temperature exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing distance, that meant railway station showed heat island effect. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the percentage of the man-made area (versus natural area) and air temperature at night, where temperature increased with an increasing percentage of man-made area. The cooling effect of the Yangtze River and Wuchang railway station could be taken into account to mitigate the urban thermal environment in Wuhan in the summer.

To alleviate the urban heat island effect and reduce the consumption of electricity and expenditure caused by active cooling devices on hot days, many cities in tropical and subtropical areas emphasize the utilization of urban greening areas in current and future urban planning. We utilized the weather research and forecasting model (WRF) to simulate and study the impact of different greening area rates on the urban microclimate in business, residential, and industrial areas in Wuhan city. Meanwhile, we proposed two efficiency coefficients to evaluate the variable cooling benefit of the improvement of the greening area. The results show that greening areas and water bodies are the cooling sources of cities and that industrial areas benefit the most from improvements in the greening rate, with the average temperature declining by 1.06 °C with a 20% increase in the greening rate, while the corresponding values of residential and industrial areas were 0.98 °C and 0.92 °C, respectively. This research provides a reference for the future planning of tropical and subtropical areas to help improve the urban microclimate, thermal environment, and environmental comfort on hot days.

铁路客站站域作为综合交通枢纽,是城市中重要的发展引擎,但目前缺乏对其演变的系统梳理和分析.以湖北地区铁路客站为研究对象,从建国前、建国后、改革开放时期和21世纪至今4个阶段梳理站域空间站房、站前广场和广场周边三个构成部分的演变历程,提取分析各阶段意象要素,归纳站域空间发展特征和影响因素,以期为站域空间未来建设提供建议和参考.