## 4 Conclusions  
This study addressed a specific research gap: the lack of integrated assessments comparing the environmental effectiveness of traffic reduction strategies with those based primarily on urban greening and material innovations in dense university settings. In particular, most existing studies have focused on single-variable evaluations or isolated mitigation measures, without validating their combined impact through a unified microscale simulation framework grounded in real-world data. The core research question was whether greening and material interventions can partially offset a lower level of traffic mitigation while still achieving comparable improvements in air quality and outdoor thermal comfort. The modeling framework, based on ENVI-met simulations and supported by field measurements, allowed for a detailed evaluation of two alternative scenarios. Scenario 1, focused on a 50% traffic volume reduction with limited greening, was hypothesized to yield stronger improvements in air quality. Scenario 2, featuring a 30% traffic reduction combined with extensive vegetative and material interventions, was expected to improve thermal comfort more substantially. The results confirmed that traffic reduction remains the most effective driver for improving both air quality and thermal comfort in compact urban areas. Scenario 1 consistently outperformed Scenario 2 across all key indicators, particularly in areas with high pedestrian activity and vehicular exposure. While vegetation and permeable or photocatalytic pavements contributed positively--especially in specific receptors--their effects were not sufficient to compensate for the lesser reduction in emissions under Scenario 2. These findings have both scientific and practical implications. From a methodological perspective, the study demonstrates the value of integrated, multi-parameter simulation frameworks for assessing trade-offs among mitigation strategies. From a contextual perspective, it highlights the environmental vulnerability of Mediterranean university campuses and the need for place-based, data-driven assessments to guide effective interventions. From a planning perspective, it confirms that meaningful environmental benefits can only be achieved through ambitious traffic calming, supported--but not replaced--by spatial and material enhancements. Although the simulations were validated and robust, they remain limited to a single meteorological condition. Future research should explore the replicability of these findings under seasonal variations and extreme climate scenarios and integrate a broader range of empirical data to refine calibration and improve transferability. In summary, the study provides evidence-based guidance for urban planners and campus managers seeking to improve environmental quality in pedestrian-oriented environments. The approach and results are transferable to other compact urban contextswhere climate-responsive design and sustainable mobility must be balanced in an integrated strategy. Conceptualization, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; methodology, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; software, M.D. and N.G.L. ; validation, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., and F.N. ; formal analysis, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; investigation, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; resources M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; data curation, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., and N.D.; writing--original draft preparation, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., and F.N. ; writing--review and editing, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; visualization, M.D., N.G.L., S.L., N.D., F.N., and V.C. ; supervision, S.L. and F.N. ; funding acquisition, S.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This work was carried out as part of the project \"MO.S.A.I.C.--Monitoraggio satelliteare, modellazioni matematiche e soluzioni architectitoniche e urbane per lo studio, la previsione e la mitigazione delle isole di calore urbano\" (DD.RR.