Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 13(3), pp. 1976 - 1994
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.130338
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Optimizing Neighborhood Rating Systems to Address Urban Heat Island Impacts

Mohamed Salah Elashry ^1,2,*, Nanees Elsayyad ³, Lamis Elgizawi ^3
1 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, New Mansoura University, Egypt
² Department of Architecture, Nile Higher Institute for Engineering and Technology, Egypt
³ Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt

ABSTRACT

The rapid urbanization of Egypt's new cities has amplified the urban heat island (UHI) effect, causing environmental and health challenges such as increased energy demands and reduced air quality. While sustainable urban development rating systems—like LEED, BREEAM, CASBEE, The Pearl, Green Star, DGNB, and Egypt's Green Pyramids Rating System (GPRS)—offer valuable frameworks, they often lack specific measures to address UHI mitigation tailored to Egypt's climatic conditions. This research proposes a UHI-focused rating system designed for Egyptian neighborhoods. The system aims to develop sustainability indicators aligned with Egypt's environmental needs, informed by consultations with 64 experts from academia, government, and related fields. Indicators were categorized into UHI, ecology, resource efficiency, and governance, and evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. Data collected in November 2024 were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII), revealing priorities in Resource Management (21.0%), Ecology (14.2%), Transportation (13.9%), and Placemaking (13.0%), with UHI Mitigation ranked at 12.0%. Lower emphasis on Social, Governance, and Economic factors reflects a focus on resources, ecology, and urban design. The findings informed UHI-specific enhancements to the GPRS framework, including green and blue infrastructure, optimized urban morphology, and heat-reducing materials. The revised framework supports Egypt's Vision 2030 and offers a replicable model for climate-resilient urban design in developing regions, addressing the critical need for sustainable strategies to mitigate UHI effects.

KEYWORDS
Urban Heat Island (UHI), Sustainable Urban Development, Green Pyramids Rating System (GPRS), UHI Mitigation, Environmental Sustainability

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Mohamed Salah Elashry , Nanees Elsayyad , Lamis Elgizawi , "Optimizing Neighborhood Rating Systems to Address Urban Heat Island Impacts," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 1976 - 1994, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.130338.

(b). APA Format:
Mohamed Salah Elashry , Nanees Elsayyad , Lamis Elgizawi (2025). Optimizing Neighborhood Rating Systems to Address Urban Heat Island Impacts. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 13(3), 1976 - 1994. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.130338.