Are global cities homogenizing? An assessment of urban form and heat island implications

The rapid growth of cities—along with the increasing connectedness world's social, economic, and political systems—has been hypothesized to generate a homogenization urban form associated environmental impacts. These hypotheses, however, have rarely tested. Employing satellite imagery 150 most populous cities in China, India, United States, we examine how area configuration built-up land within has changed between 1995 2015 assess impacts on heat island effect. We find similar trends across three countries. strongest evidence is connectivity form, while shape linked higher daytime surface (SUHI) intensity. In context this other research, postulate that identified may lead biotic abiotic environment cities. Homogenization presents an opportunity for learn from each as they encounter ecological outcomes driven, part, by their increasingly form.