Assessing Spatial Equity in Anticipatory Adaptation: The Case of Cooling Centers in Seoul

Heatwaves pose a growing threat to urban populations, disproportionately impacting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, low-income residents, and those in inadequate housing. While cooling shelters serve as a key adaptation measure, their spatial distribution and qualitative accessibility remain understudied. This study evaluates the spatial equity of cooling shelters in Seoul, South Korea, using the Gini coefficient to assess not only the number of shelters per administrative unit but also their usability factors, including nighttime and holiday access, cooling capacity, and accommodation availability. The Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) was developed at the neighborhood level, incorporating environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic factors to quantify exposure and sensitivity to heat risks. The spatial inequality of cooling shelter accessibility was then examined through heatmaps and the Gini coefficient, comparing shelter distribution with vulnerability patterns. The results reveal that high-risk areas often have fewer cooling shelters and reduced accessibility, limiting their effectiveness as adaptation measures. The analysis suggests that current cooling center policies fail to fully account for the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly in areas with limited shelter accessibility during critical periods. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating qualitative shelter characteristics into policy frameworks to ensure equitable adaptation strategies. By addressing both the quantity and usability of cooling shelters, urban resilience can be strengthened, particularly for the most heat-vulnerable communities. This study provides a methodological approach for assessing climate adaptation policies and highlights the importance of spatial equity in urban heatwave mitigation efforts.