Abstract
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, studies focused on the relationship between urban planning practice and climatology are still lacking, despite the fact that the latter has nearly three decades of literature in the region and the former has much more. However, such an unfounded relationship that would consider urban sustainability measures is a serious challenge, especially considering the effects of climate change. The Greater Cairo Region (GCR) has recently witnessed numerous serious urban vehicular network re-development, leaving the city less green and in need of strategically re-thinking the plan regarding, and the role of, green infrastructure. Therefore, this study focuses on approaches to the optimization of the urban green infrastructure, in order to reduce solar irradiance in the city and, thus, its effects on the urban climatology. This is carried out by studying one of the East Cairo neighborhoods, named El-Nozha district, as a representative case of the most impacted neighborhoods. In an attempt to quantify these effects, using parametric simulation, the Air Temperature (Ta), Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt), Relative Humidity (RH), and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) parameters were calculated before and after introducing urban trees, acting as green infrastructure types that mitigate climate change and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Our results indicate that an optimized percentage, spacing, location, and arrangement of urban tree canopies can reduce the irradiance flux at the ground surface, having positive implications in terms of mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Highlights
The detailed inputs required in the ENVI-met tool, such as the Leaf Area Index (LAI)
The findings presented are remarkably close to those found in the works of Shata et al [31] and Elwy et al [41], who determined the insignificance of the wind simulation results at 0.5 m/s and below, which might require ENVI-met to allow 24 h wind speed data entry, as it accepts 24 h data for Ta and Relative Humidity (RH)
We carried out a quantitative study to explore the solar irradiance reduction and overall cooling effect that vegetation provides in moderating microclimatic parameters—namely, Air Temperature (Ta ), Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt ), relative humidity (RH), and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET)—in urban spaces
Summary
Worldwide climate change has become an experienced reality since the advent of industrialization [1,2]. Urbanization and its correlated activities are the root cause of Climate Change (CC), as higher and higher carbon gas emission concentrations continue to be recorded, with a elevated ecological footprint. Campbell-Lendrum and Corvalán discussed the emerging threats of CC, with respect to human health and rapid economic development. Setting policies related to air pollution, the Urban Heat. Island (UHI) effect, sanitation, and population density can provide great opportunities to reduce carbon emissions [3]. Huq et al referred to cities with low-to-middle income—
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