Nature-Based Solutions for Cooling in High-Density Neighbourhoods in Shenzhen: A Case Study of Baishizhou

Ying Zheng (), Greg Keeffe and Jasna Mariotti
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Ying Zheng: School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
Greg Keeffe: School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
Jasna Mariotti: School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: These days, high-density cities are facing growing challenges related to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Greening can be a nature-based solution for UHI effect mitigation. This study aims to evaluate the potential of nature-based solutions to improve the urban living environments in Baishizhou, a high-density neighbourhood in Shenzhen. An integrated 3D visualisation research method was proposed in this study. Rhino 7, Grasshopper, and ENVI-met software were combined to evaluate environment characteristics before and after design, as well as compare differences in the outdoor thermal comfort index and the building surface temperature. The greening design scenarios include adding trees, green roofs, and green facades. The simulations ran for 24 h during the test period from 01:00 to 24:00 on 9 August 2019, which was the hottest day in Shenzhen. Baishizhou was selected as the test area for this study and environmental simulation. Results indicated that (1) vegetation has a positive cooling effect, providing outdoor thermal comfort, while shade “trees” provide significant cooling effects on hot days in tropical and subtropical climates; (2) adding green roofs and green facades to a building can significantly affect the cooling effect.

Keywords: urban heat island effect; nature-based solutions; Shenzhen; greening (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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