Transforming Vulnerable Urban Areas
An IMM-Driven Resilience Strategy for Heat and Flood Challenges in Rio de Janeiro’s Cidade Nova
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13113842 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Massimo Tadi (0000-0003-4178-9506, Politecnico di Milano), Hadi Mohammad Zadeh (0000-0001-9853-0074, Politecnico di Milano, corresponding author), Hoda Esmaeilian Toussi (Politecnico di Milano) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 339-339 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Urban Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2413-8851 • E-ISSN: 2413-8851 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/urbansci9090339 |
| OpenAlex | W4413789556 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 41 |
This study applies the Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM) to assess how morphology-driven, nature-based solutions reduce urban heat island (UHI) effects and flooding in Rio de Janeiro’s Cidade Nova. Multi-scale GIS diagnostics identify green continuity and vertical permeability as critical weaknesses. Simulations (Ladybug/Dragonfly) and hydrological modelling (rational method) quantify the intervention’s impact, including greening, material retrofits, and drainage upgrades. Results show a 38% increase in albedo, a 13% reduction in volumetric heat capacity, and a 30% drop in thermal conductivity. These changes reduce the peak UHI by 0.2 °C hourly, narrowing the urban–rural temperature gap to 3.5 °C (summer) and 4.3 °C (winter). Hydrologically, impervious cover decreases from 22% to 15%, permeable surfaces rise from 9% to 29%, and peak runoff volume drops by 27% (16,062 to 11,753 m3/h), mitigating flood risks. Green space expands from 7.8% to 21%, improving connectivity by 50% and improving park access. These findings demonstrate that IMM-guided interventions effectively enhance thermal and hydrological resilience in dense tropical cities, aligning with climate adaptation and the Sustainable Development Goals
Archaeology · Flood myth · Flooding (psychology · Geography · Geotechnical engineering · Hydrology (agriculture · Impervious surface · Meteorology · Surface runoff · Urban heat island · Water resource management · Environmental Science · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Heat Island Mitigation · Geology
Traits of trees for cooling urban heat islands
Urban green space cooling effect in cities
Critical review on the cooling effect of urban blue-green space
Street design and urban canopy layer climate
Coastal resilience and adaptation strategies
Beyond bouncing back? Comparing and contesting urban resilience frames in US and Latin American contexts
The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions
Ecosystem services in urban areas
Which is riskier
Resilience trade-offs
Assessment methods of urban system resilience
Building urban resilience with nature-based solutions
Building up resilience in cities worldwide – Rotterdam as participant in the 100 Resilient Cities Programme
Toward an integrated theory of spatial morphology and resilient urban systems
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |