Paper Conference

Proceedings of BSO Conference 2016: Third Conference of IBPSA-England

     

Optimising The Urban Environment Through Holistic Microclimate Modelling – The Case Of Beirut’s Pericenter

Hiba Mohsena, Rokia Raslanb, Ibtihal El- Bastawissi

Abstract: Various studies have suggested that urbanisation may significantly alter microclimate conditions. To address this, expanding urban vegetation cover can be used to aid the dissipation of excess heat through enhancing evapotranspiration. This study aims to numerically assess and optimize the use of green corridors to reconnect leftover and in-between building plots within Beirut city centre through the use of ENVI-met V4, a holistic microclimate modelling system used to optimize green infrastructure strategy to improve pedestrian comfort levels. Analysis results illustrate the significant effect of urban intervention strategies in decreasing pedestrian heat stress, where the air temperature is reduced by 4-5 (PET) °C. Furthermore, a correlation between the leaf area density and PET values was identified. In the wider context, this work supports the case for the application of ecological urbanism supported by integrated micro-urban environment modelling as a catalyst for the improvement of the quality of urban space. Keywords: urban heat island, green infrastructure, human thermal comfort, PET, ENVI-met V4, Beirut.
Pages: 321 - 329
Paper:
bso2016_1112