Presentation description

Salt Lake City summers are becoming increasingly hot and dry, with urban areas experiencing the greatest intensification of heat (Climate Central, 2025). However, urban heat is not uniformly experienced; temperatures can vary greatly even within a single city block due to differences in tree canopy, building form, and land use (Hu et al., 2022). These factors influence how pedestrians experience heat by altering shade, airflow, and the amount of heat retained by surrounding surfaces. Understanding these spatial variations is key to designing cooler, more comfortable streetscapes.

This study explores variation in personal heat exposure at the pedestrian level across four walking routes in Salt Lake City differing in urban form. Temperature data were collected from June 17 to July 12, 2025, using a Kestrel DROP D3 Wireless Temperature, Humidity & Pressure Data Logger that recorded measurements every two seconds during walking sessions. The routes were selected to reflect a range of built environments and tree densities. Spatial data on tree locations and building types were collected through field observation and mapping. We focused on two days, July 1st (hotter) and July 5th (cooler), to assess how urban form influences personal heat exposure under contrasting conditions.

Results show that Route 2 consistently recorded the highest and the greatest variation in temperatures, coinciding with a higher concentration of mid- and high-rise buildings and fewer trees. This suggests that taller, denser buildings intensify heat exposure by reducing shade, increasing surface heat absorption, and limiting air circulation. Although Route 4 had the highest number of trees, it was not the coolest, indicating that vegetation alone may not fully counteract the heat effects of densely built environments. Overall, both vegetation and building height play a role in shaping urban heat, with Route 2 standing out as a high-priority area for increasing tree canopy to reduce pedestrian-level heat.