Authors: Iason C. Dimitriou, Apostolos Arsenopoulos, Alexandros Xenakis, Panos Kouloukakis, Vangelis Marinakis

Abstract: This study presents a GIS-based methodology for assessing urban heat vulnerability by integrating spatial, environmental, and socio-economic data. The research focuses on the Athens Metropolitan Area, a city highly exposed to extreme heat due to climate change, dense urban fabric, and limited green spaces. The methodology is designed to bridge the gap between conventional Heat Risk Index (HRI) assessments-based on temperature patterns and built environment characteristics-and the socio-economic vulnerability of the population, which is often overlooked in climate resilience studies. The proposed approach follows a twostep analysis: Spatial Heat Risk Assessment for mapping urban heat exposure through various parameters; and Socio-Economic Vulnerability Integration to enrich the heat risk model by generating an Enhanced Heat Risk Index (EHRI), offering a more holistic understanding of vulnerability. The results reveal a strong correlation between high heat exposure and socially marginalized populations, who are more likely to reside in energyinefficient buildings with poor climate resilience. The comparison between HRI and EHRI highlights the necessity of incorporating socio-economic factors into heat risk assessments to ensure equitable and citizencentered climate adaptation strategies. This research provides a replicable framework for other urban regions, supporting evidence-based policymaking that prioritizes the protection of vulnerable communities. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions such as green infrastructure expansion, heat-reflective building materials, and affordable cooling solutions to enhance urban climate resilience and promote socially inclusive adaptation policies.

Read the full article here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11107091