Human Interaction with Urban Morphology under the Influence of Urban Heat Island: A Systematic Review

Outdoor urban spaces are essential to residents’ well-being, yet their thermal comfort is increasingly compromised by urbanization and climate change. Although urban morphology has been widely studied, its effects on human thermal comfort within mi-croclimates remain inadequately understood. This study addresses this gap by exam-ining the interactions between urban morphology, microclimate, and pedestrian ther-mal comfort. We employed a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA framework, alongside parametric thinking using General Morphological Analysis (GMA) to systematically explore how variations in urban form parameters influence microclimatic conditions and pedestrian thermal comfort. The study’s objectives were threefold: (1) to systematically analyze the existing literature, identify key trends, and uncover knowledge gaps; (2) to explore the psychological, physical, and social factors influencing thermal perception; and (3) to assess how urban morphological features affect microclimate and pedestrian thermal comfort. To address these challenges, we developed a novel framework, Design Tools, which quantitatively links urban mor-phology parameters, outdoor thermal indices, and pedestrian comfort. By prioritizing outdoor thermal comfort in urban design, this approach offers valuable insights to en-hance climate-responsive design strategies and improve pedestrian well-being amid the growing challenges of urban heat islands.