Urban Morphology, Urban Ventilation and Urban Heat Island Mitigation: A Methodological Framework

Abstract

AbstractWind is a good regulator of urban temperature and outdoor thermal comfort. Urban ventilation, urban temperature and outdoor thermal comfort are affected by urban morphology. However, relationships among wind, temperature and outdoor thermal comfort have not been well documented, constraining urban planners and architects’ capability of regulating urban morphology for enhancing urban ventilation and its associated potential for cooling. To address this challenge, therefore, this chapter aims to develop an analytical framework to reveal inter-relationships among urban morphology, urban ventilation performance, urban heat island (UHI) effects and outdoor thermal comfort. The framework consists of five components including physio-morphological characteristics, external meteorological conditions, precinct ventilation performance, UHI effects and outdoor thermal comfort. Through this framework, first, combined impacts of physio-morphological characteristics, external meteorological conditions on precinct ventilation performance were presented. Second, co-impacts of urban physio-morphological characteristics and precinct ventilation performance on UHI effects were explained. Third, associated impacts of urban ventilation performance and UHI effects on outdoor thermal comfort were analyzed. Overall, the analytical framework can inform of knowledge about future studies on urban morphology, local ventilation, UHI effects and outdoor thermal comfort. Meanwhile, the analytical framework can suggest urban planners and policy makers with rational decisions on urban modification for UHI mitigation.KeywordsMethodological frameworkUrban morphologyUrban ventilationUrban heat islandOutdoor thermal comfort