TY - JOUR

T1 - Modelling the impact of an urban development project on microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in a mid-latitude city

AU - Anders, Julian

AU - Schubert, Sebastian

AU - Sauter, Tobias

AU - Tunn, Siiri

AU - Schneider, Christoph

AU - Salim, Mohamed

N1 - Funding Information: Julian Anders was supported by the Federal German Ministry of Education and Research ( BMBF ) grant 01UR2021B , Sebastian Schubert was partly supported by BMBF grant 033W107C , Mohamed Salim was supported by Module A of the BMBF -Programme [UC]2: MOSAIK-2 -further development of PALM-4U (grant 01LP1911E ), and Siiri Tunn was supported by BMBF grant 01UR2021B . Additionally, we acknowledge the funding received from Modul B of the BMBF -Programme [UC]2: 3DO+M - evaluation and scientific application of PALM-4U (project number: 01LP1912 ) to cover the publication fees associated with this work. Funding Information: Julian Anders, Sebastian Schubert, Siiri Tunn, Mohamed Salim reports financial support was provided by Federal Ministry of Education and Research Berlin Office.Julian Anders was supported by the Federal German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) grant 01UR2021B, Sebastian Schubert was partly supported by BMBF grant 033W107C, Mohamed Salim was supported by Module A of the BMBF -Programme [UC]2: MOSAIK-2 -further development of PALM-4U (grant 01LP1911E), and Siiri Tunn was supported by BMBF grant 01UR2021B. Additionally, we acknowledge the funding received from Modul B of the BMBF-Programme [UC]2: 3DO+M - evaluation and scientific application of PALM-4U (project number: 01LP1912) to cover the publication fees associated with this work.

PY - 2023/10/1

Y1 - 2023/10/1

N2 - This study assesses the impacts of sustainable urban development adapted to climate change in the city of Stuttgart, Germany. We use the state-of-the-art meteorological modelling system PALM-4U to simulate the microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort of the development site Neckarpark during a heatwave. We compare the atmospheric conditions of the current urban structure before the development project (2018) and the future state, representing the new district after completion (2025). Our results indicate that the restructuring barely affects surrounding neighbourhoods, but leads to mean near-surface air temperature increases in the centre of development between [Formula presented] and [Formula presented]. Differences in Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) show a heterogeneous pattern at daytime, with a large amplitude and temporal variability in the diurnal cycle ([Formula presented]). At night, the planned buildings increase the mean PET by [Formula presented]. The new buildings reduce the effect of adaptation measures designed to increase the cooling effects, i.e. urban trees and vegetation, amplifying the thermal stress during heatwaves. Our study confirms the complex composite impacts of urban restructuring due to the thermal and dynamic flow processes. The paper may serve as a guide for the use of meteorological models to assess microclimatic impacts of planned development projects, contributing to urban planning and adaptation strategies.

AB - This study assesses the impacts of sustainable urban development adapted to climate change in the city of Stuttgart, Germany. We use the state-of-the-art meteorological modelling system PALM-4U to simulate the microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort of the development site Neckarpark during a heatwave. We compare the atmospheric conditions of the current urban structure before the development project (2018) and the future state, representing the new district after completion (2025). Our results indicate that the restructuring barely affects surrounding neighbourhoods, but leads to mean near-surface air temperature increases in the centre of development between [Formula presented] and [Formula presented]. Differences in Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) show a heterogeneous pattern at daytime, with a large amplitude and temporal variability in the diurnal cycle ([Formula presented]). At night, the planned buildings increase the mean PET by [Formula presented]. The new buildings reduce the effect of adaptation measures designed to increase the cooling effects, i.e. urban trees and vegetation, amplifying the thermal stress during heatwaves. Our study confirms the complex composite impacts of urban restructuring due to the thermal and dynamic flow processes. The paper may serve as a guide for the use of meteorological models to assess microclimatic impacts of planned development projects, contributing to urban planning and adaptation strategies.

KW - Development

KW - Microclimate

KW - Outdoor thermal comfort

KW - PALM-4U

KW - PET

KW - Urban planning

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165224045&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113324

DO - 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113324

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85165224045

VL - 296

JO - Energy and buildings

JF - Energy and buildings

SN - 0378-7788

M1 - 113324

ER -