Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Influence of urban planning regulations on the microclimate in a hot dry climate: The example of Damascus, Syria

Yahia, Moohammed Wasim LU and Johansson, Erik LU (2013) In Journal of Housing and the Built Environment 28(1). p.51-65
Abstract
Urban planning regulations influence not only the urban form; they also have a great impact on the microclimate in urban areas. This paper deals with the relationship between the urban planning regulations and microclimate in the hot dry city of Damascus. The main purpose is to highlight the shortcomings of the existing urban planning regulations. The microclimatic parameters necessary for the thermal comfort assessment of pedestrians were determined through simulations with the software ENVI-met. It is shown that the street design-as regards aspect ratio, orientation and the presence of trees-has a great influence on ground surface temperatures and thermal comfort. Moreover, the type of buildings-whether detached or attached (street... (More)
Urban planning regulations influence not only the urban form; they also have a great impact on the microclimate in urban areas. This paper deals with the relationship between the urban planning regulations and microclimate in the hot dry city of Damascus. The main purpose is to highlight the shortcomings of the existing urban planning regulations. The microclimatic parameters necessary for the thermal comfort assessment of pedestrians were determined through simulations with the software ENVI-met. It is shown that the street design-as regards aspect ratio, orientation and the presence of trees-has a great influence on ground surface temperatures and thermal comfort. Moreover, the type of buildings-whether detached or attached (street canyons)-has an impact. For deep canyons there is an interactive relationship between aspect ratio, orientation and vegetation. However, for streets with detached buildings, there is only a weak influence of street orientation and aspect ratio but a strong influence of vegetation on surface temperatures and outdoor thermal comfort. The study shows the importance of modifying the planning regulations in Damascus for new areas by allowing smaller setbacks, narrower streets, higher buildings, etc. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Aspect ratio, Damascus, Hot dry climate, Microclimate, Planning, regulations, Street design, Thermal comfort, Vegetation
in
Journal of Housing and the Built Environment
volume
28
issue
1
pages
51 - 65
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000316349100004
  • scopus:84875397716
ISSN
1573-7772
DOI
10.1007/s10901-012-9280-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c17fc0fb-30ba-4583-8347-55f72b53e7a5 (old id 3761004)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:50:39
date last changed
2023-11-14 15:48:23
@article{c17fc0fb-30ba-4583-8347-55f72b53e7a5,
  abstract     = {{Urban planning regulations influence not only the urban form; they also have a great impact on the microclimate in urban areas. This paper deals with the relationship between the urban planning regulations and microclimate in the hot dry city of Damascus. The main purpose is to highlight the shortcomings of the existing urban planning regulations. The microclimatic parameters necessary for the thermal comfort assessment of pedestrians were determined through simulations with the software ENVI-met. It is shown that the street design-as regards aspect ratio, orientation and the presence of trees-has a great influence on ground surface temperatures and thermal comfort. Moreover, the type of buildings-whether detached or attached (street canyons)-has an impact. For deep canyons there is an interactive relationship between aspect ratio, orientation and vegetation. However, for streets with detached buildings, there is only a weak influence of street orientation and aspect ratio but a strong influence of vegetation on surface temperatures and outdoor thermal comfort. The study shows the importance of modifying the planning regulations in Damascus for new areas by allowing smaller setbacks, narrower streets, higher buildings, etc.}},
  author       = {{Yahia, Moohammed Wasim and Johansson, Erik}},
  issn         = {{1573-7772}},
  keywords     = {{Aspect ratio; Damascus; Hot dry climate; Microclimate; Planning; regulations; Street design; Thermal comfort; Vegetation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{51--65}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Housing and the Built Environment}},
  title        = {{Influence of urban planning regulations on the microclimate in a hot dry climate: The example of Damascus, Syria}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10901-012-9280-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10901-012-9280-y}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}