Diurnal Microclimate Patterns in Munich’s Public Squares: The Role of Vegetation Complexity

With climate change, the frequency of extreme heat days is projected to increase, highlighting the need for climate-resilient urban design. Nature-based solutions, such as urban forestry, can help mitigate heat-related stress in cities.
Over the past few years, studies have investigated the role that vegetation complexity plays in various climatic contexts, including urban forests. However, uncertainties remain regarding the effect of vegetation complexity on the microclimate of urban public squares. Thus, we investigate the relationship between the diurnal microclimate of urban public squares and the complexity of vegetation. We define the latter as the vertical arrangement of different vegetation layers, such as shrubs and trees.
We captured the vegetation structure of six public squares in Munich using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) during the summer of 2025. The squares were selected based on qualitative criteria indicating differences in vertical structure, specifically whether they contained a small hedge or tall understorey plants. We then used the resulting point clouds to understand how the complexity of vegetation in public squares can be quantified. We further measured several weather parameters on-site during July and August for the six squares, as well as on two non-vegetated public squares as controls.
The preliminary analysis of the weather data shows differences between the control group and the squares with more complex vegetation structure. The latter group shows lower maximum temperatures, higher humidity, and lower wind speed. Further, the first metrics calculated from the point cloud indicate quantifiable differences between the squares.
The final results will provide insights into the potential benefits and drawbacks of complex vegetation structures in creating climate-resilient public squares.