Urban geometry as an adaptation strategy to improve the outdoor thermal performance in hot arid regions: Aswan University as a case study

Abstract

Due to the lack of a comprehensive multiscale campus planning guideline, new universities in Upper Egypt are associated with a lack of environmental considerations of the surrounding climatic conditions. Additional extensions planned for the Aswan University campus located in New Aswan city provide an opportunity to explore thermal improvements in a hot arid environment. This study presents analytical and empirical findings that highlight the potential for their implementation in outdoor spaces. Most of the previous literature address the urban geometry from a single scale perspective. However, in this study coupled scales were adopted to get more effective thermal adaptation guidelines; urban form planning (cluster scale), and geometrical details (canyon scale). The study investigates five urban forms and 18 urban geometry scenarios to quantify their thermal impacts on outdoor spaces. All scenarios were evaluated according to the differences in geometrical variables, with data introduced based on on-site measurements and microclimate simulations using ENVI-met software. The results are ranked according to its influence on pedestrian thermal comfort. The suggested strategy could reduce the average PET value with 6.8 °C in the NS canyons and 4.2 °C in the EW during the peak hour. Design guides are introduced for planners and decision-makers.