Effects of Orientations, Aspect Ratios, Pavement Materials and Vegetation Elements on Thermal Stress inside Typical Urban Canyons

Gabriele Lobaccaro, Juan Angel Acero, Gerardo Sanchez Martinez, Ales Padro, Txomin Laburu and German Fernandez
Additional contact information
Gabriele Lobaccaro: Department of Architecture and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Juan Angel Acero: TECNALIA, Energy and Environmental Division, Parque Tecnologico de Bizkaia, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Gerardo Sanchez Martinez: Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Marmorvej 51, Building FN Byen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Ales Padro: TECNALIA, Energy and Environmental Division, Parque Tecnologico de Bizkaia, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Txomin Laburu: TECNALIA, Energy and Environmental Division, Parque Tecnologico de Bizkaia, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
German Fernandez: TECNALIA, Energy and Environmental Division, Parque Tecnologico de Bizkaia, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-29

Abstract: The analysis of local climate conditions to test artificial urban boundaries and related climate hazards through modelling tools should become a common practice to inform public authorities about the benefits of planning alternatives. Different finishing materials and sheltering objects within urban canyons (UCs) can be tested, predicted and compared through quantitative and qualitative understanding of the relationships between the microclimatic environment and subjective thermal assessment. This process can work as support planning instrument in the early design phases as has been done in this study that aims to analyze the thermal stress within typical UCs of Bilbao (Spain) in summertime through the evaluation of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature using ENVI-met . The UCs are characterized by different orientations, height-to-width aspect ratios, pavement materials, trees’ dimensions and planting pattern. Firstly, the current situation was analyzed; secondly, the effects of asphalt and red brick stones as streets’ pavement materials were compared; thirdly, the benefits of vegetation elements were tested. The analysis demonstrated that orientation and aspect ratio strongly affect the magnitude and duration of the thermal peaks at pedestrian level; while the vegetation elements improve the thermal comfort up to two thermophysiological assessment classes. The outcomes of this study, were transferred and visualized into green planning recommendations for new and consolidated urban areas in Bilbao.

Keywords: outdoor thermal comfort; PET; ENVI-met; urban canyon; coastal; mid-latitude regions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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