An Assessment of Vulnerable Areas in Urban Thermal Environments Based on Social and Economic Factors

Abstract

Intensification of urban thermal environments can threaten the survival of vulnerable groups including the elderly, infirmed, and children, due to rising temperatures. Therefore, this study suggests a system of assessment and classification of urban thermal environments by focusing on vulnerable, potentially high risk groups, identified by social and economic factors. In this study, assessment was based on the IPCC vulnerability assessment framework, and the results were classified as the following: urgently needing improvement areas; potential risk areas; adaptive capacity enhancing areas; and sustainable current areas. The vulnerability assessment results were analyzed to determine vulnerability by region with populations concentrated around the old downtown area and areas of unfavorable traffic conditions. Classification resulted in 19 dong of urgently needing improvement areas, 47 dong of potential risk areas, 17 dong of adaptive capacity enhancing areas, and 12 dong of sustainable current areas. The results of this study can be used as a guideline to determine a basic direction for thermal environment improvement and for policy making.