Kyle Blount, an assistant professor of ecohydrology in the University of Illinois Springfield’s Environmental Studies Program within the College of Health, Science and Technology, has co-authored two collaborative research articles that offer new guidance for cities and researchers working to manage extreme heat, water challenges and the growing demands of urbanization.

In May, Blount and colleagues published a study in Remote Sensing that identifies a simple and low-cost way to predict how hot neighborhoods feel at street level. The research shows that combining detailed surface temperature data with information about sun and shade can accurately estimate local air temperatures without relying on complex models or expensive sensor networks.

The team analyzed twelve residential blocks in Portland, Oregon, and found that surface temperatures adjusted for shade explained 70 percent of the variation in street-level air temperatures. They also found shading to be the most effective cooling factor, with pavement and roofs measuring up to 36 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in shade.

“Our study shows cities can understand and manage heat without complicated technology or expensive monitoring programs,” Blount said. “By looking closely at where shade falls and what materials make up a neighborhood, we can see which areas will be hottest and take action to cool them.”

In November, Blount co-authored a second national study published in Water Resources Research that takes a broader look at how climate change, rapid development and long-standing inequities are shaping the study of urban water systems. The article synthesizes perspectives from researchers across North America and describes how the field of urban hydrology must evolve to meet the needs of growing and increasingly diverse urban communities. The authors emphasize that effective hydrology research in cities must integrate physical science, public policy, social systems and environmental justice in order to guide decision-making that reflects the realities people face on the ground.

The publication outlines challenges and opportunities for the field and calls for new approaches that connect engineered infrastructure with soils, vegetation, community engagement and governance.

“Cities can only make informed decisions when science reflects the full reality of urban environments,” Blount said. “That means integrating engineering, ecology, social equity and governance rather than treating them as separate systems.”

Together, the two studies highlight both immediate and long-term pathways for helping cities reduce heat risks, improve water management and design more resilient and equitable neighborhoods.