Wednesday, June 6, 2012

12th EMS Annual Meeting & 9th European Conference on Applied Climatology (ECAC), 2012, Poland

Simulation of Urban Heat Island Effects on the Microclimate: Using ENVI-met Model

Parisa Shahmohamadi, Ulrich Cubasch, Sahar Sodoudi

Institut für Meteorologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany



Abstract

This paper used the tree-dimensional microclimate model ENVI-met 4.0 which prognosticates the microclimate changes within urban environments to simulate the UHI intensity in 6 urban district of Tehran metropolitan area. The variables used in this study are higher albedo materials and vegetation cover. Three different scenarios have been defined including: 1. covering horizontal and vertical surfaces with higher albedo materials; 2. covering vertical and horizontal surfaces with vegetation covers and 3. covering vertical and horizontal surfaces with vegetation covers and high albedo material altogether. To observe the effect of each single and both variables on mitigating urban heat island in an urban area. The simulations, which run in a hot summer day for 24 hours, are compared and the results are discussed.

Key Words: ENVI-met, High Albedo Material, Vegetation Cover, Urban Heat Island.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Eighth International Conference on Urban Climate 2012, Dublin, Ireland

The Simulation of “Natural Ventilator of the City” Model by Using ENVI-met to Mitigate the Effect of Urban Heat Island in Tehran Metropolitan Area

Parisa Shahmohamadi1, Ulrich Cubasch1, Sahar Sodoudi1, A.I. Che-Ani2

1 Institut für Meteorologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia


Abstract

Natural Ventilator of the City (NVC) model has been recommended by this paper to mitigate the UHI intensity in Tehran metropolitan area. The main aim of this model is to achieve ideal condition with zero effects of UHI. In order to achieve this condition, hypothesis has been considered which if the half of 6 urban district of Tehran covers with vegetation covers and high albedo materials, it could be approached to this condition. 6 urban district, as a central district of Tehran, is one of the polluted areas which plays an important role on formation of UHI. Providing different kinds of greenery such as balcony gardens, green roofs and vertical and horizontal landscape in barren and urban lands along with using higher albedo materials can convert 6 urban district into the central ventilator. In this way, providing this natural ventilator in 6 urban district can affect the surrounding areas and mitigate the UHI intensity in whole part of the metropolitan area. Therefore, in order to prove whether the ideal condition is achievable or not, simulation of NVC model by using the micro scale climate model ENVI-met has been done. The result will be presented and discussed.

Key Words: ENVI-met, Natural Ventilator of the City Model, Urban Heat Island. 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

UEP 2012 Conference (Creating Healthy, Liveable Cities)- Amsterdam, Netherlands

Natural Ventilator of the City: a Model for Alleviating Urban Heat Island

Parisa Shahmohamadi1, Ulrich Cubasch1, Sahar Sodoudi1, A.I. Che-Ani2
1 Institut für Meteorologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia


Abstract

The present paper deals with the dependence of alleviating urban heat island (UHI) on the design of an appropriate model. The model called “Natural Ventilator of the City”, recommended by this paper, has two different components including: 1) meteorological and urban structure factors which with their interactions form UHI over the urban areas; 2) vegetation covers and high albedo materials which contribute to mitigate the produced UHI. Compiling the key components into model is meaningful in promoting the passive climate control brought by vegetation covers and high albedo materials in an urban area. The interactions among the key components and the way of contribution of variables to alleviate the UHI effects are presented in the model. This study has chosen a district of Tehran as a case study. In order to test the model three approaches are presented, showing the results of UHI measurement using satellite image, UHI modeling using spatial analyses based on ArcGIS and urban climate simulations using three dimensional microclimate model ENVI-met which prognosticates the microclimate changes within urban environments.

Key Words: ENVI-met, High Albedo Material, “Natural Ventilator of the City” Model, Vegetation Cover, Urban Heat Island.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Sciencedirect

Healthy Environment: The Need to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effects on Human Health
 
P. Shahmohamadi11, A.I. Che-Ani11, I. Etessam2, K.N.A. Maulud3, N.M. Tawil1
1Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2Department of Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Fine Art, Tehran University, Iran
3Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 


Abstract

This paper is focused on understanding the most important factors of UHI formation and their effects on urban population health with an emphasis on the considerable growth of both population and rapid urbanization of Tehran, Iran. To achieve this aim, this paper explores literally a conceptual framework about the relationship between UHI and human health. Then, it suggests three important strategies to minimise the impact of UHI on human health: achieving appropriate transportation for mitigating air pollution, providing appropriate landscape, increasing the albedo of building materials.

    Keywords: Albedo Materials; Healthy Environment; Horizontal Landscape; Human Health; Vertical Landscape; Urban Heat Island

    See web site:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705811029481