A Literature Survey of Local Climate Zone Classification: Status, Application, and Prospect

Rapid urban expansion and climate change have prompted further investigations into urban thermal climates and the development of local climate zone (LCZ) classification systems. LCZs, proposed 10 years ago, comprise a new and systematic classification of field sites for heat island studies to provide a reference for future LCZ research, so that scholars can understand what research has been done and identify future research trends. We analyzed LCZ studies in a database from 2012 to the present, and identified recurring themes using VOSviewer software, including LCZ mapping, measurement methods, thermal environments, and outdoor thermal comfort, among others. A systematic evaluation was performed using bibliometric analysis in the PRISMA framework—190 relevant studies were selected for subsequent analysis. Descriptive analysis showed that LCZ research has received increasing attention, particularly in China, where more than 60% of the LCZ studies were conducted. The results showed that the maximum number of articles on all themes was 57 articles on LCZ mapping, followed by studies of the thermal environment (UHI/SLT). It is hoped that this article will provide scholars in this area with an understanding of the research that has been conducted and the methods used, and provide insight into future research directions.

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