Research on the Planning Method and Strategy of Urban Wind and Heat Environment Optimization—Taking Shenzhen, a Sub-Tropical Megacity in Southern China, as an Example

Abstract

The planning techniques and strategies for optimizing the urban wind and heat environment are important means for cities to adapt to climate change at the source. This study used Shenzhen, a sub-tropical megacity in southern China, as an example for evaluating the climate environment, heat island intensity, and urban form, and then for analyzing the relationships between them. The results revealed a high-quality climate area located southeast of Shenzhen that can provide a high wind speed and low temperature. Low-quality climate areas were located in the central and western regions and were less comfortable. The relationship between surface ventilation potential and urban form was analyzed using linear regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient, showing that there was a significant correlation between a surface urban heat island (SUHI) and building density (BD) as well as the sky view factor (SVF), and that there was also a correlation between the ventilation potential coefficient (VPC) and other factors, such as the surface’s roughness length (RL) and building height (BH). The results showed that ventilation capacity deteriorated as BH and RL increased. An environmentally sensitive thermal area was identified from the surface urban heat island intensity, which was always in a strong heat island (SHI) or sub-strong heat island (SSHI) year-round. It was recommended that seven level one corridors and nine level two corridors be formed. Additionally, thermal and wind environment optimization strategies and protective suggestions were proposed for the city’s overall development.

Keywords

• heat island
• ventilation
• urban form
• planning strategy