Alternative scenarios for ecological urbanizations using ENVI-met model

Abstract

Natural areas are quickly degraded by opening new settlement and industrial areas in order to meet the increasing demand of the growing population. Concreting, modification of land surfaces, complex urban structures, and depressed urban environments contribute to the formation of an Urban Heat Island (UHI). In this study, the outdoor measurements, meteorological parameters related to the thermal indices such as humidity, temperature, wind velocity, and direction for 24 h measurements, were evaluated. The ENVI-met micro-scale model was performed for evaluating alternative scenarios for winter and summer on thermal comfort for better urban environments. Meteorological parameters together with vegetation characteristics were analyzed for making possible scenarios in botanical garden_, auto industrial area_, city center, and rural open area. The average of the vegetated simulations of the botanical garden was about 2.2 °C cooler than this of the mean of current situation in the city center. Based upon the average of all stations, it was determined that the temperature increased 1.4 °C with the simulation of both wooded areas in winter. However, the mean temperature of all stations with coniferous plants was 1.2 °C cooler, in summer. It was concluded that deciduous plants in city center produced more positive results than coniferous plants in winter. In general, it can be said that afforestation in cold climatic regions provides great advantages for both summer and winter and positively affects outdoor thermal comfort. However, it needs further measurement and further research in this regard.

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