IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i14p6240-d1440062.html

Exploring Thermal Discomfort during Mediterranean Heatwaves through Softscape and Hardscape ENVI-Met Simulation Scenarios

Author

Listed:
  • Evgenia Tousi

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Egaleo, Greece)

  • Areti Tseliou

    (School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, Greece)

  • Athina Mela

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Egaleo, Greece)

  • Maria Sinou

    (Department of Interior Architecture, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece)

  • Zoe Kanetaki

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Egaleo, Greece)

  • Sébastien Jacques

    (University of Tours, CEDEX 1, 37020 Tours, France)

Abstract

The study examines the effectiveness of various design strategies in alleviating the impacts of heatwaves in the Mediterranean region, focusing on a densely populated post-refugee urban area in Greece. By analyzing five different design scenarios, the study aims to identify the most efficient approach to mitigate thermal stress outdoors. The five design scenarios include changes in albedo values and coatings and alterations in the number and type of trees. The methodology includes a literature review, field work and microclimate simulations with the use of ENVI-met 5.6.1. The study evaluates ENVI-met data through potential air temperature, PET and UTCI analysis. The experimental results indicate that the most effective strategy is associated with urban greening. In particular, increasing tree cover considerably reduces air temperature, PET and UTCI values by 4 to 10 degrees Celsius. This finding highlights the potential of urban greening to enhance thermal comfort and combat heatwave effects. The research findings may be useful to landscape architects and urban designers, in light of a more climate-responsive urban design in the Mediterranean region. Future research may also assess the combined impact of multiple mitigation strategies on a larger scale, informing evidence-based policies for heatwave resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Evgenia Tousi & Areti Tseliou & Athina Mela & Maria Sinou & Zoe Kanetaki & Sébastien Jacques, 2024. "Exploring Thermal Discomfort during Mediterranean Heatwaves through Softscape and Hardscape ENVI-Met Simulation Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-37, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6240-:d:1440062
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6240/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6240/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Viniece Jennings & Alessandro Rigolon, 2021. "Green Gentrification and Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Fadly Syah Arsad & Rozita Hod & Norfazilah Ahmad & Rohaida Ismail & Norlen Mohamed & Mazni Baharom & Yelmizaitun Osman & Mohd Firdaus Mohd Radi & Fredolin Tangang, 2022. "The Impact of Heatwaves on Mortality and Morbidity and the Associated Vulnerability Factors: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Inga Dailidienė & Inesa Servaitė & Remigijus Dailidė & Erika Vasiliauskienė & Lolita Rapolienė & Ramūnas Povilanskas & Donatas Valiukas, 2023. "Increasing Trends of Heat Waves and Tropical Nights in Coastal Regions (The Case Study of Lithuania Seaside Cities)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Cristina Ayala-Azcarraga & Daniel Diaz & Tania Fernandez & Fernando Cordova-Tapia & Luis Zambrano, 2023. "Uneven Distribution of Urban Green Spaces in Relation to Marginalization in Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.
    5. Muhammad Mushahid Anwar & Muhammad Hashim & Asad Aziz & Alice Stocco & Hazem Ghassan Abdo & Hussein Almohamad & Ahmed Abdullah Al Dughairi & Motrih Al-Mutiry, 2023. "Urban Green Spaces Distribution and Disparities in Congested Populated Areas: A Geographical Assessment from Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Pechan, Anna & Eisenack, Klaus, 2014. "The impact of heat waves on electricity spot markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 63-71.
    7. Maria Sinou & Katerina Skalkou & Roumpini Perakaki & Sébastien Jacques & Zoe Kanetaki, 2023. "Holistic Strategies Based on Heritage, Environmental, Sensory Analysis and Mapping for Sustainable Coastal Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Stergios Koutsanitis & Maria Sinou & Zoe Kanetaki & Evgenia Tousi & George Varelidis, 2025. "Thermal Performance Investigation in Historical Urban Neighborhoods Using ENVI-Met Simulation Software," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-33, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kan, Zihan & Wei, Jiaomin & Kwan, Mei-Po & Yang, Zhenchuan, 2026. "A trajectory mining framework for exploring individual concurrent environmental exposure and its association with mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 388(C).
    2. Santágata, Daniela M. & Castesana, Paula & Rössler, Cristina E. & Gómez, Darío R., 2017. "Extreme temperature events affecting the electricity distribution system of the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (1971–2013)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 404-414.
    3. Le, Anh-Tuan & Tran, Thao Phuong & Mishra, Anil V., 2023. "Climate risk and bank stability: International evidence," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 70.
    4. Tanmoy Malaker & Qingmin Meng, 2024. "Urban Disparity Analytics Using GIS: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Tol, Richard S. J., "undated". "The Economic Impact of Weather and Climate," FEEM Working Papers 309917, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    6. Weiwei Hu & Darong Guo & Jianfang Wang & Shitai Bao, 2025. "A Decadal Assessment of the Coordinated Relationship Between Heat Risk and Cooling Resources in Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Steinhäuser, J. Micha & Eisenack, Klaus, 2020. "How market design shapes the spatial distribution of power plant curtailment costs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    8. Muhammad Mushahid Anwar & Juergen H. Breuste & Ayaz Ahmad & Asad Aziz & Ali Abdullah Aldosari, 2023. "Quantifying the Impacts of Urbanization on Urban Agriculture and Food Security in the Megacity Lahore, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-13, August.
    9. Alessandro Rigolon & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Olivia McAnirlin & Hyunseo (Violet) Yoon, 2021. "Green Space and Health Equity: A Systematic Review on the Potential of Green Space to Reduce Health Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    10. Man Li & Tao Chen & Juan Li & Guangbin Yang & Linglin Zhao & Qiangyang Cao & Li Yang & Yang Sun, 2024. "Advancing Sustainability in Urban Planning by Measuring and Matching the Supply and Demand of Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-30, November.
    11. Dandan Wang & Hyun Min & Donggen Rui, 2024. "Intentional Characteristics and Public Perceived Preferences of Lake Parks Based on Machine Learning Models," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
    12. Nicole V. DeVille & Linda Powers Tomasso & Olivia P. Stoddard & Grete E. Wilt & Teresa H. Horton & Kathleen L. Wolf & Eric Brymer & Peter H. Kahn & Peter James, 2021. "Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-18, July.
    13. J. Micha Steinhäuser & Klaus Eisenack, 2015. "Spatial incidence of large-scale power plant curtailment costs," Working Papers V-379-15, University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics, revised Jul 2015.
    14. Deema Abo Elassal & Yosef Jabareen, 2025. "Understanding Urban Adaptation Policy and Social Justice: A New Conceptual Framework for Just-Oriented Adaptation Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-28, May.
    15. Klaus Eisenack & Mathias Mier, 2019. "Peak-load pricing with different types of dispatchability," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 105-124, December.
    16. Tila Robinson & Noelle Robertson & Ffion Curtis & Natalie Darko & Ceri R. Jones, 2022. "Examining Psychosocial and Economic Barriers to Green Space Access for Racialised Individuals and Families: A Narrative Literature Review of the Evidence to Date," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-28, December.
    17. Taheri, Forouzan & Kolahi, Mahdi, 2026. "Scenario-based planning for urban sustainability: Envisioning an ecological city in Shandiz, Iran by 2032," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    18. Totschnig, G. & Hirner, R. & Müller, A. & Kranzl, L. & Hummel, M. & Nachtnebel, H.-P. & Stanzel, P. & Schicker, I. & Formayer, H., 2017. "Climate change impact and resilience in the electricity sector: The example of Austria and Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 238-248.
    19. David B. Olawade & Melissa McLaughlin & Yinka Julianah Adeniji & Gabriel Osasumwen Egbon & Arghavan Rahimi & Stergios Boussios, 2025. "Urban Microclimates and Their Relationship with Social Isolation: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(6), pages 1-32, June.
    20. Nora Pankratz & Rob Bauer & Jeroen Derwall, 2023. "Climate Change, Firm Performance, and Investor Surprises," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(12), pages 7352-7398, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6240-:d:1440062. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.