7. Conclusion: Livability in a Warming Climate

Taken together, the studies presented for Qatar point toward a number of planning guidelines that can be adopted at different scales, ranging from regional down to neighborhood level. While the recent physical development of Qatar is discernable through an analysis of satellite images, the quality of growth and its implications for the social, economic, and environmental conditions of the region all require further study and analysis. These studies have analyzed the patterns of urbanization that led to significant challenges in thermal comfort and provide guidance on alleviating urban heat, depending on thermal regimes in different areas of Doha. Findings suggest that the the built enviornment can, in fact, mediate extreme urban heat, though likely only at the 'shoulder periods', which consist of periods in the morning and evening. The ability for creating outdoor spaces that are inviting and habitable is essential for livability. Though these chapters are an early examination of the opportunities for improving urban livability, they are, admittedly, an early exploration. Future work will need to find a way to refine further the models, analyses, and ultimate applications of this work. Without doubt, the field of urban climate adapation sciences will provide a springboard for society to advance livability on a burning planet.