Biohybrid Urban Infrastructure Systems Incorporating Living Materials for Passive Mitigation of Urban Heat Islands and Improved Air Quality

Abstract

Cities are rapidly growing, and as such, they face two important environmental concerns: urban heat islands (UHIs) and declining air quality. This research presents an innovative Biohybrid Urban Infrastructure System (BUIS), which is made up of a combination of living materials in the built environment (e.g., green roofs, vertical bio facades, spirulina algae bioreactor panels, mycelium composite thermal tiles, and urban tree canopy networks) with the integration of IoT sensing and machine learning control systems into one passive mitigation framework. The analysis uses previously validated datasets from Singapore, Phoenix, Cairo, Mumbai, Lagos, and Bangkok to demonstrate that the proposed system will produce average reductions in mean surface temperature of 2.8–5.1 °C from unconditioned baselines when compared to typical measured mean surface temperatures for UHI mitigation made by common 1-layer green roof systems, with an average net difference of 1.9 °C. The average annual concentrations of PM₂.₅ and NO₂, respectively, show a decrease of 28 % and 31 % across the six (6) monitored locations. A longitudinal carbon sequestration analysis shows a cumulative removal of 31.5 tCO₂ per 1,000 m² over a six-year operation period. Analyses of energy usage show aggregate savings of 24.7 % and, on average, 31.5 % of the cooling requirement from the total operating cost of the building(s). The BUIS design, supported by two (2) schematic design representations, consists of five interdependent layers: environmental sensing; living material modules; AI-facilitated analytics; infrastructure integration; and sustainability tracking. Statistical modeling validation (R² = 0.972 and RMSE = 0.148 °C) provides confirmation of high predictability. Thus, BUIS can be considered as a scalable and replicable solution that is in alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 11, 13, and 15, promoting livable, climate-resilient urban areas.