Street Design and Urban Microclimate: Analyzing the Effects of Street Geometry and Orientation on Airflow and Solar Access in Urban Canyons

Abstract

Urban climate is an effective issue on the local and global climates which is influenced by several factors such urban morphology and density, the properties of urban surfaces and vegetation cover. The inappropriate using of these factors could change the microclimate of urban areas. Streets as considerable parts of urban open spaces have a significant role in creating the urban microclimates. As street geometry and orientation influence the amount of solar radiation received by street surfaces and also airflow in urban canyons. This paper discusses the current literature and evidence for the effects of street design on the urban microclimate with highlighting the impacts of streets geometry (H/W ratio) and orientation on airflow and solar access in an urban canyon. Researches conducted on this term have proved that street's geometry and orientation are key factors in providing a pleasant microclimate at pedestrian level in an urban canyon.