Interdependencies Between Urban Policy, Land Use, Microclimate Dynamics, and Sustainability Education: A Case Study of Birmingham, Alabama

Abstract

Urban sustainability challenges in the SEUS are intensifying as rapid land-use transitions interact with humid subtropical climate conditions to amplify heat exposure, environmental inequities, and infrastructure stress. Birmingham, Alabama, exemplifies these dynamics, yet mid-sized cities of this region remain understudied in terms of how policy frameworks, land-cover trajectories, microclimate patterns, and human capacity development converge to shape climate resilience. This dissertation develops and applies to an integrated analytical model-Policy → Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) → Microclimate → Education-to examine these interdependencies across three interconnected research goals (RG). RG1 quantifies how LULC types regulate temperature and humidity patterns from 2001 to 2023, demonstrating that high-intensity developed areas are consistently warmer and more humid than forested surfaces, with temperature differentials reaching approximately 0.62°C and dew-point differences approaching 0.70°C during peak summer months. These findings reveal clear biophysical mechanisms through which vegetation loss and surface imperviousness intensify local heat stress. RG2 evaluates the influence of Birmingham’s 2000 Zoning Ordinance and its 2013 Comprehensive Plan on LULC change, showing that post-2013 planning reforms reduced low-density sprawl and stabilized forest cover, leading to measurable moderation of microclimate intensification relative to pre-2013 patterns. RG3 investigates the impact of targeted sustainability education on engineering undergraduates across a multi-year implementation of a climate- and energy-focused curriculum. Mixed-methods analysis shows significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions, as well as evidence that students developed a deeper understanding of the socio-ecological dimensions of urban climate resilience. Together, these results illustrate a dynamic feedback loop in which policy decisions shape land-use outcomes, land-use outcomes influence microclimate patterns, and microclimate challenges underscore the need for sustainability-literate professionals capable of supporting evidence-based planning. The findings highlight Birmingham as a representative case of the pressures facing mid-sized SEUS cities, where high humidity, increasing heatwave frequency, and uneven green-space distributions intensify vulnerability along socioeconomic lines. The dissertation advances an interdisciplinary model that integrates environmental analysis, urban policy evaluation, and sustainability education, offering a replicable framework for climate adaptation planning in similar regions. It concludes by emphasizing the need for expanded spatial monitoring, multi-city comparative studies, and broader educational initiatives to prepare future engineers and planners for the complex urban climate challenges emerging across the SEUS.