This thesis examines the phenomenon of urban heat islands (UHIs) in central Novo Mesto, investigating the effectiveness of nature-based solutions in mitigating their effects. The research aimed to identify the spatial distribution and intensity of urban heat islands, and to propose a set of solutions to improve conditions in the areas most affected by heat through a conceptual design. The methodology included a literature review, temperature measurements taken with a probe at 16 locations during two heatwaves in the summer of 2022, mapping of the temperature data and microclimate simulations using the ENVI-met® model at four locations experiencing the most intense UHI. The July measurement data were used as input values for the simulations. The results revealed significant temperature disparities between different areas. The simulations showed that the highest daily temperatures reached 40.5 °C at Novo Mesto bus station, 38.5 °C at TPV company, 36.6 °C at Novi trg and 35.5 °C at the library. Field measurements with a probe confirmed a temperature difference of over 5 °C between different areas. At 2 p.m., when the greatest temperature differences were observed, the calculated universal thermal climate index (UTCI) indicated extreme heat stress of up to 46 °C in some locations. Comparing the baseline conditions with the proposed conceptual designs confirmed that increasing greening and soil permeability could reduce the maximum daily temperature by up to 2.5 °C and the perceived temperature by over 3 °C. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential of nature-based solutions as a key spatial measures for helping urban areas adapt to increasingly frequent and intense heat.
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