مژگان موسائي پور

Given the effects of climate change and the intensification of urban heat islands caused by urban development, enhancing outdoor thermal comfort between urban blocks is essential for promoting vitality, reducing cooling energy consumption during hot seasons, and mitigating urban heat island impacts. Previous studies have demonstrated the influence of urban morphology and configuration on outdoor thermal comfort. Most research has focused on the impact of the building height-to-street width ratio and block orientation on thermal comfort; however, no study has specifically optimized urban block configurations to improve outdoor thermal comfort. This study aims to optimize urban block configurations using parametric design to enhance outdoor thermal comfort. It also investigates the impact of each configuration variable on thermal comfort indices among blocks. In addition to air temperature and wind speed parameters, the assessment includes mean radiant temperature (MRT), the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and relative humidity (RH). To ensure the accuracy of results, software validation was conducted by comparing field data on relative humidity and air temperature with simulation results prior to the simulation. The Honeybee plugin in Grasshopper was used for simulation, and multi-objective optimization was performed in the Wallacei platform in Grasshopper. A sensitivity analysis was then conducted to assess relationships between configuration variables and outdoor thermal comfort indices. Finally, to better understand the significance of these factors, the best and worst building configurations obtained from the optimization process were simulated and compared using Envi-met software. In total, 1,000 configuration scenarios were eva‎luated during the optimization process, with six solutions selected as the optimal set on the Pareto front. The results indicate that the optimal building block configuration reduces the mean radiant temperature by 10.26°C and the average UTCI by 3.48°C compared to a linear configuration, which is commonly used for residential blocks in Tehran. Furthermore, this configuration has a significant impact on wind speed and flow, reducing wind speed by approximately 67% while improving airflow distribution within urban canyons and alleys surrounding the buildings. However, configuration variables have minimal influence on relative humidity between blocks. By providing an optimal layout for residential blocks in Tehran’s hot and arid region, this study offers insights for urban planning policies and regulations.

جزيره گرمايي شهري , آسايش حرارتي خارجي , ميانگين دماي تابشي , بهينه‌سازي پيكربندي بلوك‌هاي مسكوني

Urban Heat Island , Outdoor Thermal Comfort , Mean Radiant Temperature , Optimization of Residential Block Configuration

Mozhgan Mousaeipour

Dr. Haniyeh Sanaieian, Dr. Mohsen Faizi