Locating trees to mitigate outdoor radiant load of humans in urban areas using a metaheuristic hill-climbing algorithm – introducing TreePlanter v1.0

Abstract. Mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) is a frequently used measure of outdoor heat conditions. Excessive Tmrt, linked especially to clear and warm days, has negative effect on human wellbeing. The highest Tmrt such days found in sunlit areas, whereas shaded areas have significantly lower values. One way alleviating high by planting trees provide shade exposed areas. Achieving the most efficient mitigation excessive tree with multiple requires optimized positioning trees, which computationally extensive procedure. By utilizing metaheuristics, number calculations can be reduced. Here, we present TreePlanter v1.0, applies metaheuristic hill-climbing algorithm input raster data shadow patterns position complex urban enables dynamic exploration compared very demanding brute-force calculations. been evaluated static greedy that positions one at time based ranking expected always find relevant locations for trees. results show algorithm, relatively low model runtime, several simultaneously, lowers substantially. TreePlanter, its two algorithms, assist optimization decrease thermal discomfort.