Harnessing retro-reflective materials for urban heat island mitigation: simulation insights and future directions

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21720%2F25%3A00385387" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21720/25:00385387 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00086-y" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00086-y</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00086-y" target="_blank" >10.1007/s44327-025-00086-y</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Harnessing retro-reflective materials for urban heat island mitigation: simulation insights and future directions

Original language description

The urban heat island (UHI) effect presents significant challenges to energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and public health in densely populated areas. Traditional cooling strategies, such as high-albedo and diffusive coatings, often fail to address inter-surface heat retention in urban canyons, where narrow street geometries intensify heat buildup. This study explores the potential of retro-reflective (RR) materials as an innovative solution for UHI mitigation. Using Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulations, we examine the influence of bead size, refractive index, and solar incidence angle on RR material performance. Results reveal that RR materials achieve solar reflectance values up to 88%, outperforming traditional surfaces, especially in urban canyons with high aspect ratios (H/W = 2.0). Their superior adaptability ensures optimal light redirection during summer’s high solar angles and winter’s low angles, achieving annual reflectance improvements of up to 23% over diffusive coatings. These findings underscore the role of RR materials in reducing cooling energy demand while minimizing localized heat accumulation. However, limitations in simulation parameters, material durability, and real-world climatic variations highlight the need for further investigation. This research provides a foundation for integrating RR materials into sustainable urban design, contributing to energy efficiency and improved thermal environments in dense urban settings.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_ost - Miscellaneous article in a specialist periodical

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20101 - Civil engineering

Project

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Continuities

R - Projekt Ramcoveho programu EK

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Discover cities

ISSN

3004-8311

e-ISSN

3004-8311

Volume of the periodical

2

Issue of the periodical within the volume

Duben

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

18

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

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EID of the result in the Scopus database

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