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Revealing Urban Morphology and Outdoor Comfort through Genetic Algorithm-Driven Urban Block Design in Dry and Hot Regions of China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaodong Xu

    (School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210018, China)

  • Chenhuan Yin

    (China Overseas Property, Zhengzhou 450000, China)

  • Wei Wang

    (School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210018, China)

  • Ning Xu

    (School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210018, China)

  • Tianzhen Hong

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Building Technology and Urban Systems Division, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • Qi Li

    (School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210018, China)

Abstract

In areas with a dry and hot climate, factors such as strong solar radiation, high temperature, low humidity, dazzling light, and dust storms can tremendously reduce people’s thermal comfort. Therefore, researchers are paying more attention to outdoor thermal comfort in urban environments as part of urban design. This study proposed an automatic workflow to optimize urban spatial forms with the aim of improvement of outdoor thermal comfort conditions, characterized by the universal thermal climate index (UTCI). A city with a dry and hot climate—Kashgar, China—is further selected as an actual case study of an urban block and Rhino & Grasshopper is the platform used to conduct simulation and optimization process with the genetic algorithm. Results showed that in summer, the proposed method can reduce the averaged UTCI from 31.17 to 27.43 °C, a decrease of about 3.74 °C, and reduce mean radiation temperature (MRT) from 43.94 to 41.29 °C, a decrease of about 2.65 °C.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaodong Xu & Chenhuan Yin & Wei Wang & Ning Xu & Tianzhen Hong & Qi Li, 2019. "Revealing Urban Morphology and Outdoor Comfort through Genetic Algorithm-Driven Urban Block Design in Dry and Hot Regions of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:13:p:3683-:d:245754
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaodong Xu & Fenlan Luo & Wei Wang & Tianzhen Hong & Xiuzhang Fu, 2018. "Performance-Based Evaluation of Courtyard Design in China’s Cold-Winter Hot-Summer Climate Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Lin, Yu-Hao & Tsai, Kang-Ting & Lin, Min-Der & Yang, Ming-Der, 2016. "Design optimization of office building envelope configurations for energy conservation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 336-346.
    3. Sarralde, Juan José & Quinn, David James & Wiesmann, Daniel & Steemers, Koen, 2015. "Solar energy and urban morphology: Scenarios for increasing the renewable energy potential of neighbourhoods in London," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 10-17.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed Mohamed Shehata, 2023. "Sustainable-Oriented Development for Urban Interface of Historic Centers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Eduardo Bassolino & Valeria D’Ambrosio & Alessandro Sgobbo, 2021. "Data Exchange Processes for the Definition of Climate-Proof Design Strategies for the Adaptation to Heatwaves in the Urban Open Spaces of Dense Italian Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-31, May.
    3. Mohammad Mazen Khraiwesh & Paolo Vincenzo Genovese, 2023. "Outdoor Thermal Comfort Integrated with Energy Consumption for Urban Block Design Optimization: A Study of the Hot-Summer Mediterranean City of Irbid, Jordan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-28, May.
    4. Nayara R. M. Sakiyama & Joyce C. Carlo & Leonardo Mazzaferro & Harald Garrecht, 2021. "Building Optimization through a Parametric Design Platform: Using Sensitivity Analysis to Improve a Radial-Based Algorithm Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Pei Yi & Luyun Liu & Yu Huang & Minhuan Zhang & Huaiwan Liu & Komi Bernard Bedra, 2023. "Study on the Coupling Relationship between Thermal Comfort and Urban Center Spatial Morphology in Summer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Olga Palusci & Carlo Cecere, 2022. "Urban Ventilation in the Compact City: A Critical Review and a Multidisciplinary Methodology for Improving Sustainability and Resilience in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-44, March.
    7. Likai Wang & Patrick Janssen & Kian Wee Chen & Ziyu Tong & Guohua Ji, 2019. "Subtractive Building Massing for Performance-Based Architectural Design Exploration: A Case Study of Daylighting Optimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Daoru Liu & Zhigang Ren & Shen Wei & Zhe Song & Peipeng Li & Xin Chen, 2019. "Investigations on the Winter Thermal Environment of Bedrooms in Zhongxiang: A Case Study in Rural Areas in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Region of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-25, August.

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