Quantification of the Outdoor Thermal Comfort within Different Oases Urban Fabrics

Mohamed Elhadi Matallah, Djamel Alkama, Jacques Teller, Atef Ahriz and Shady Attia
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Mohamed Elhadi Matallah: Laboratory of Design and Modelling of Architectural and Urban Forms and Ambiances (LACOMOFA), Department of Architecture, University of Biskra, Biskra 07000, Algeria
Djamel Alkama: Department of Architecture, University of Guelma, Guelma 24000, Algeria
Jacques Teller: Local Environment Management and Analysis (LEMA) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Atef Ahriz: Department of Architecture, University of Tebessa, Constantine road, Tebessa 12000, Algeria
Shady Attia: Sustainable Building Design (SBD) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-23

Abstract: Oases settlements are common entities of human agglomerations throughout desert regions. Oases settlements face several environmental challenges such as climate change, which can render them insufferably hot and unlivable within decades. Therefore, this study aims to assess the outdoor thermal comfort variation within three different oases urban fabrics of Tolga Oases Complex in Algeria. The overarching aim is to quantify thermal comfort and guide landscape, and urban designers improve outdoor thermal comfort. The methodology relies on microclimatic measurements and weather datasets (TMY2, TMY3, TMYx), combining observations and numerical simulations. A total of 648 Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) values were calculated in three different urban fabrics in Tolga Oases Complex, Algeria. Between 2003 and 2017, a remarkable microclimatic change was found, causing a high and accelerated heat stress level of 76%. The study results inform architects, urban planners and climatologists about climate change effects and urban sprawl impact on the oases lands. Moreover, urban strategies should seek mitigation and adaptation benefiting from the existing green infrastructure of palm groves.

Keywords: oasis settlement; arid climate; sky view factor; area occupancy; PET; ENVI-met; RayMan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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