Using a fast urban climate model to simulate the effects of pavement watering on urban heat mitigation

Pavement watering has emerged as a potential strategy for mitigating urban heat and adapting cities to climate change. However, modelling tools to support the large-scale planning of such interventions remain limited. This study introduces the integration of pavement watering dynamics into an established fast urban climate model. The proposed new model was validated through comparisons with measurements and existing modelling data, demonstrating good agreement. To ensure robustness and reliability, the approach was tested using diverse input information, showing that wetting impervious pavements can reduce surface temperatures by up to 15 °C and air temperature by as much as 2 °C. The results also provide valuable insights into effective pavement watering practices for optimising surface and air temperature reductions. Additionally, a city-scale simulation illustrated the broader potential of expanding the application of pavement watering strategies. Our proposed model offers new approaches for advancing understanding the cooling effects and water resource needs for pavement watering practices, facilitating smarter planning of heat mitigation measures for more liveable urban environments.