Sustainability In Urban Design Research Articles

Sustainable Urban Landscapes in Hot–Dry Regions: Climate-Adaptive Courtyards

In hot and arid environments, courtyards are essential architectural elements that significantly contribute to microclimate regulation and enhanced thermal comfort. Beyond providing protection against environmental severities, these spaces elevate the standards of livability and sustainability in urban design. The traditional landscape of Mardin, Turkey, exemplifying such challenges, takes center stage in this study, where courtyards hold a prominent role in architectural composition. Facilitated by the ENVI-met software, the evaluation process herein comprehensively analyzes four representative courtyard case studies in Mardin. Key parameters, including air temperature, humidity, predicted mean vote (PMV), and wind speed, are considered to gain a nuanced understanding of their thermal dynamics. The initial evaluation of existing conditions reveals varying thermal comfort levels, with higher PMV values indicating discomfort in the courtyards, underscoring the need for interventions to enhance their microclimate regulation and resilience to climate change challenges. This study aims to enhance our comprehension of the relationship between courtyards and microclimate regulation, particularly in hot–dry regions. By examining the design principles and passive strategies of courtyards, this research identifies effective approaches for optimizing courtyard design, aiming to create sustainable and comfortable living environments.

Implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Sustainable Urban Design (A comparative study between Masdar City and Marotta City)

This thesis explores the utilization of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in the design of sustainable cities. It provides a comprehensive definition of BIM, with a focus on its various dimensions. The concept of sustainable cities and green buildings is examined as a foundation for achieving sustainable development goals. The thesis also addresses sustainable project phases and how BIM can be integrated into these stages. The thesis emphasizes the role of BIM in enhancing the design of sustainable cities by improving energy consumption and elevating air and environmental quality. The research also delves into how BIM can be used to enhance interaction and collaboration among stakeholders during the design phases. Practical aspects of the research are illustrated through an analytical comparative study between the cities of Masdar and Marotta, with a specific focus on the results derived from the application of BIM in these projects. The research presents practical recommendations that enhance the integration between BIM and the design of sustainable cities. The thesis concludes by summarizing the comprehensive results and recommendations, reaffirming the crucial importance of applying BIM to enhance sustainability in urban design.

Optimal design of complex dynamic shadings: Towards sustainable built environment

Complex dynamic shading is one of many innovative technologies widely used to improve comfort and energy saving for the construction of a sustainable built environment for modern cities. However, the dynamic mechanism of the complex shading design has not always been well understood, which plays significant importance in the building performance of cities especially considering the complex environmental conditions. In this study, we aim to optimize the annual daylighting and energy performance of a complex, dynamic, origami-based shading system based case studies of a typical city building, which is located in the hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) zone in China. A modified parametric behavior maps (PBM) method was utilized for performance evaluation. A multivariate function was used to describe the interaction between the annual operation schedule and three environmental stimuli, i.e., hourly solar radiation reaching the south-facing window, hourly mean illuminance of the room, and hourly outdoor dry-bulb temperature. Radiance and EnergyPlus were integrated into the annual performance simulation of the dynamic shading. Experimental data has been used for validation of the dynamic strategy. The results indicated that the performance of the complex dynamic shading compared to the conventional static overhang shading depends largely on the annual operation schedule on an hourly basis. Indeed, the dynamic behaviors of complex shadings can improve the daylighting performance by 91.5% and energy performance by 19.9%, respectively, for office buildings with a large window-to-wall ratio in China's HSCW zone. This study will contribute to the performance-based design of complex dynamic shading, and further help to improve sustainability in urban design for modern cities.

Urban Flood Modeling Application: Assess the Effectiveness of Building Regulation in Coping with Urban Flooding Under Precipitation Uncertainty

This research evaluates the effectiveness of planning and building regulations in coping with urban flooding under different precipitation scenarios. Accordingly, the study simulated seven alternative scenarios considering the variations of precipitation, plot coverage regulations, and Low Impact Development (LID) options. The study utilized open-source geospatial software to model different surface runoff scenarios. Then the effectiveness of those seven alternatives was assessed by utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique to evaluate their sustainability in urban design. The results revealed that the plot coverage regulations are effective in managing floods during average rainfall events, and LID-based infrastructure solutions are effective during moderate rainfall events. Nevertheless, none of these solutions were solely adequate during extreme rainfall events. Regardless of the response to extreme rainfall occurrences, the practitioners’ opinion was in favour of green roof adoption and plot coverage regulation considering their effectiveness in managing more frequent average rainfall events, and the overall sustainability in maintaining the balance of urban hydrological pathways. Accordingly, the findings of the study can be utilized as a guide to the decision-making process in urban planning and design, and to formulate sustainable planning regulations and guidelines to cope with urban flooding under the precipitation uncertainty.

Global trends in sustainability rating assessment systems and their role in achieving sustainable urban communities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Sustainability as a concept is tackled a lot in contemporary urbanism due to its importance; consequently, this led to the development of global trends toward achieving it. The current research attempts to identify how sustainability could be achieved in urban design and how to comply with the global concerns. This paper tackles the experiences of the global trends toward sustainability concepts in terms of its application by examining a range of contemporary global urban examples. It depends on a comparative analytical assessment using the ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Neighborhood Development, LEED-ND’ assessment system in order to address the criteria measuring the sustainability indicators for these examples. These criteria are mainly grouped under the following categories: sustainable planning and design, water management, energy management, waste management, transportation and construction materials and resources. The research mainly aims to identify strategies and criteria assisting in achieving sustainability concept and implementation in urbanism at international level and their role in achieving sustainable urban settlements in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve this aim, the research methodology includes the following: review of the global sustainability assessment tools, review of the ‘LEED-ND’ assessment system, analytical comparative assessment of ‘King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’ and ‘Masdar City’ according to the ‘LEED-ND’ system as case studies and identifying strategies and criteria that achieve sustainability in urban design and planning.

Acoustic sustainability in urban design: lessons from the World Soundscape Project

ABSTRACT The pioneering work of the World Soundscape Project in North America and Europe in the 1970s has laid a foundation for acoustic ecology, soundscape composition and a model of the acoustic community. Based on this work, the author suggests some guiding principles for the qualitative aspects of urban acoustic design and sustainability that address quality of life issues.

INTEGRATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY IN URBAN DESIGN: THE CAMPUS OF KING ABDALLAH UNIVERSITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN JEDDAH AS A CASE STUDY

Due to the change of the city form in terms of density of buildings, urban sprawl and the negative effects of urban activities on the surrounding environment, it becomes very important to raise the awareness of urban designers regarding the concept of sustainability and how it can be used to achieve integrated urban design. Accordingly, the concept of sustainability will be applied on not only buildings but also on urban spaces by using a comprehensive approach which produces qualitative and integrated urban spaces. The trend of achieving sustainable urban spaces represents one of the latest phases of urban design which aims to face the current challenges in terms of climate change, shortage of water and energy resources and increasing consumption of the available materials. However urban design considers the criteria of permanence and continuity, it is crucial to focus on the advantages which can be added to urban areas when the dimensions of sustainability are considered. The research problem is the focus on achieving sustainability in buildings and ignoring this aim at the level of urban spaces although the criteria of sustainable site is required in many local and international rating systems of sustainable projects. Additionally, most research studies focus on the strategies and techniques of achieving the environmental sustainability without taking in account the economic and social dimensions of sustainable urban design. This research aims to clarify and analyze the aspects of sustainability in urban design at the conceptual and practical levels in order to determine the aims and principles which are added by the sustainable approach of urban aspects of sustainability in urban design at the conceptual and practical levels in order to determine the aims and principles which are added by the sustainable approach such as protection of the bio-diversity, development of strong economy which does not consumes the natural resources through many techniques that utilize the available opportunities and possibilities, ensure the justice of services distribution, consider different ages of users and express the local culture and the social context. Finally, King Abdallah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) has been analyzed as an example of sustainable urban spaces.

Evaluating sustainable urban development using urban metabolism indicators in urban design

Urban metabolism is a multi-disciplinary approach to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate resource flows in urban systems, which aims to provide important insights into the dynamics of cities to make them more ecologically responsible. It has been also introduced into the urban design domain, however most of the attempts concern only tracking of energy and/or material flows to reduce environmental impacts by redesigning closed loops in a specific area. The hypothesis of this paper is that the concept of urban metabolism, and its indicators, could play an important role in advancing the science and practice related to sustainability in urban design and development. At the moment, however we lack indicators to support evaluation of urban design related decisions from the perspective of urban metabolism. The aim of this paper is to explore the application of urban metabolism indicators in urban design based on their characteristics. It reviews development periods of the concept and analytical models of urban metabolism, in order to identify crucial urban metabolism indicators for urban design. Next, these urban metabolism indicators are classified regarding type of analytical model, accounting method, indicator type, and indicator level. Finally, several suggestions are offered on how to integrate urban metabolism indicators into urban design. In addition, directions for future research on the topic are discussed.

A Parametric Optimization Approach to Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect: A Case Study in Ancona, Italy

The aim of this paper is to identify a parameterization method that considers existing connections and relationships between traditional indicators of environmental sustainability as a step in combating climate change via urban strategies. A typical Mediterranean city (Ancona, Italy) is investigated with a multi-objective optimization platform called modeFrontier, which uses Pareto optimality. This concept formalizes the trade-off between a given set of mutually contradicting objectives, such as high thermal comfort and low energy consumption, to identify a set of Pareto solutions. A solution is Pareto optimal when it is not possible to improve one objective without deteriorating at least one of the others. The optimization process employs given constraints (for example, meteorological scenarios with high temperature and low winds or morphological building parameters), custom procedural algorithms (recursive algorithms to generate the set of all non-dominated objective parameters), and genetic algorithms (inspired by the natural selection process) to examine a wide urban space and identify interesting relationships among relevant variables for typical summer scenarios. Multi-objective optimizers involve many evaluations of two objectives (i.e., energy consumption and thermal comfort in this study) while considering many analytical constraints. This approach entails a considerably more exhaustive search of environmental variables that can help the urban planning process to mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Three quantitative metrics related to urban morphology and local climate conditions, as well as a thermal comfort indicator (the predicted mean vote), are defined and applied to Ancona to examine the potential for new sustainability in urban design. The results show that two parameters examined—compacity and a building-scale energy indicator—can offer insight when designing comfortable cities, while a citywide energy indicator shows that it is more difficult to find optimal solutions when dealing with the city as a whole. The research serves as a proof-of-concept and the possibility of identifying some local strategies in order to combat the UHI is verified.

Microclimatic analysis as a prerequisite for sustainable urbanisation: Application for an urban regeneration project for a medium size city in the greater urban agglomeration of Athens, Greece

Abstract Integrating sustainability in urban design is a prerequisite for adequately addressing the urban challenges related to climate change, resource availability, environmental degradation and energy consumption. For the integration to be well formulated, urban planners need comprehensive microclimatic information at adequate spatial and temporal scales so as to define the bioclimatic design targets of the urban area concerned. In this study a medium size city (Acharnes, built at the southern foothills of Mt Parnitha, at a distance of 10 km north of Athens) is examined in terms of its thermal characteristics and the resulting thermal comfort conditions in municipal open spaces. Results show significant thermal loads for specific city areas as well as use of materials which result in adverse thermal conditions and in poor thermal comfort. On the basis of the results, specific guidelines are defined for the sustainable urbanisation of the city of Acharnes, in particular for an urban regeneration project concentrated at the centre of the city. The approach reflects a pattern which may be well applied in cities of respective size and urban characteristics and in similar climatic zones.

Urban Architecture as Connective-Collective Intelligence. Which Spaces of Interaction?

During the twentieth century, with the advent of industrial society and globalization, the language of planning changed according to the shifts in construction and use of physical space. By borrowing terms and spatial forms from biology and cybernetics, industrial society and globalization increased the original semantic connotations. Moving from cognitive sciences, this paper outlines the definition of architecture as connective-collective intelligence and presents its implication in urban design. Spontaneous and commercial initiatives are redefining the communication form of urban life, affecting the procedures of the transmission of traditional knowledge. This approach to building environment is moving towards a complex multichannel interaction, involving both the individual and the collective experiences of space and technology. In describing some signs of that process, the authors outline new features that are changing the concept of sustainability in urban design.

Enhancing urban sustainability using 3D visualisation

This paper presents the results of an initial application of a prototype simulation and visualisation tool (S-City VT) that was developed to enable all stakeholders, regardless of background or experience, to understand, interact with and influence decisions made on the sustainability of urban design. The tool takes the unique approach of combining three-dimensional (3D) interactive and immersive technologies with computer modelling to present stakeholders with an interactive virtual development. Use of outputs from the model and a 3D visualisation of the development can help decision-makers judge the relative sustainability of different aspects of a development. The tool employs a number of different methods to present sustainability results to stakeholders. Initial tests on the effectiveness of the different visualisation methods are described and discussed. The paper then presents some conclusions on further development and application of the tool to model and visualise possible results of decisions made at different stages of the project.

Meals in Metropolis: mapping the urban foodscape in Melbourne, Australia

This paper discusses how food mapping was used to introduce Industrial Design and Landscape Architecture students to the important issues of food security and sustainability in urban design. It is based on the experiences of teachers and students in an undergraduate course, “Meals in Metropolis”, at the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Students were introduced to concepts such as localism, diversity, food security, resilience, innovation and integration. Three outcomes were produced; food chain maps, neighbourhood food maps, and redesign posters, which applied an ecological systems perspective to redesign current urban agriculture models of production. The paper has two outcomes: (1) the demonstrated uptake of new knowledge by the students and (2) the contribution of new knowledge to the Melbourne food movement. Together, these outcomes reveal an emerging landscape of innovative food production within Melbourne that could manifest into a more resilient, distributed urban food system.