Microclimatic Simulation Tools to Evaluate Urban Heat Mitigation: Vegetation and Urban Surface Strategies for Sustainable Environments

The rapid expansion of urbanization in recent decades has intensified the urban heat island effect, driven by reduced vegetation cover, widespread use of heat-absorbing materials, and increases in surface and atmospheric temperature that may reach 5–6 °C. These conditions negatively impact well-being, quality of life, and human health. In response, numerous studies have examined mitigation strategies based on high-albedo materials and urban vegetation. This systematic review analyzes 225 peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2025 addressing urban heat mitigation, surface thermal conditions, urban vegetation, outdoor thermal comfort and microclimate simulations. It provides a comprehensive synthesis, highlighting key findings and implications for future research. According to the Köppen–Geiger classification, most studies were conducted in humid subtropical and warm Mediterranean climates. The analysis focuses on urban canyon interventions, where vegetation is primarily modeled as shading trees (79.2%), along with other forms such as grass or shrubs (27.1%), mainly during the summer season. Results indicate that integrated mitigation strategies combining vegetation and high-albedo surfaces (≈0.8) generally provide greater cooling benefits than isolated interventions. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of the interaction between vegetation shading and surface properties for mitigating urban heat in outdoor spaces.