Assessment methods of urban microclimate and its parameters: A critical review to take the research from lab to land

Urbanization creates enormous opportunities and contributes to socio-economic diversity that renovates the built environment. However, growth and development has an overwhelming impact on urban microclimate (UMC), as it modifies key environmental and meteorological parameters creating impacts like urban heat and dry islands, change in precipitation rate, frequency and intensity and so on. The current review focuses on UMC parameters like temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and speed, concentrating on reported variations and inter linkages. Although, there have been many advances in methodologies adopted for assessment of UMC, the implementation of key findings for improved urban planning is not adequately addressed. Chronology of research methodologies related to UMC assessment is compiled and reported including field observation-based studies, satellite-based observations and modeling and simulation of parameters affecting UMC. The study stresses on the gaps in research methodologies adopted and helps pave way for future research, by emphasizing implementation-oriented perspectives, such as development of frameworks, integrated assessment of parameters, development of simplistic tools for effective decision making. The study demonstrates the missing links in this reserach field and suggests action steps to take it from lab to land and further demands to focus on policy and implementation front, for coherent urban planning.