The influence of urban planning parameters on the climatic performance of urban fabrics: A predictive investigation in Arapiraca-AL, Brazil

Abstract

Research Purpose: High urban density, often considered as harmful for the urban climate, may correspond to different morphologies of urban structures. The objective of this study is a predictive evaluation of the climatic performance of urban fabrics, presenting different densities and morphological patterns, based on the correlation of traditional and advanced urban planning parameters. Methodology: The methodological procedures were: a) computer simulation for predictive analysis of climate performance of hypothetical scenarios using ENVI-met model; b) statistical analysis to verify the degree of correlation between environmental and urban morphology variables. Air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed of the hypothetical scenarios and of spatial typologies were analysed in the urban site of Arapiraca-AL located in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Findings: A negative correlation was observed between the behavior of the maximum air temperature (dependent variable) and the advanced urban planning parameters of the mesh porosity and the arboreal density index (independent variables), through correlation coefficient with absolute values above 0,7. Originality/Value: Correlation analysis indicated the influence of morphological patterns on the climatic performance of urban fabrics. The results demonstrate that advanced urban parameters can be investigated to optimize the use of bioclimatic strategies in the urban environment.

Keywords

• urban built density
• urban morphology
• urban climate perfomance
• microclimate