Optimizing Pedestrian Comfort in Arid Cities: A Shade-Oriented Pathfinding Approach in Dubai

In recent decades, the population boom in Middle Eastern cities has led to increased motorization and consequent carbon emissions. Cities have been expanding their public transportation systems and promoting walking and biking. However, the scorching temperatures make the active-mobility choice challenging. This study investigates the alignment of the shortest and shadiest paths within 500 and 1000-meter walksheds of metro stations in Dubai, where commuters often walk to their destinations. We developed an optimal shading path method that assigns dynamic rewards to buildings, trees, and indoor shade, which better reflects real-world conditions than existing models that only give shade a constant reward. The results reveal that, on average, the shadiest path is 1.3% longer than the shortest path, with an 8.9% increase in building shade and an 8.8% decrease in sun exposure compared to the shortest path. The findings provide valuable information to planning agencies about where to prioritize shade provision, ultimately enhancing pedestrian comfort and promoting active mobility in warmer cities.