Examining the impact of urban form on air quality and thermal comfort in three selected high-density neighbourhoods in Chennai Metropolitan Area, India

Research claims that previous studies that examine the impact of urban form on air quality and thermal comfort in high-density neighbourhoods, often focus on developed countries. Reacting to this, this study aims to investigate the impact of urban form on air quality and thermal comfort in selected three high-density neighbourhoods (Triplicane, Purasaivakkam and George Town) in Chennai Metropolitan, India. Adopting field measurements for a period of 30-days during summer, mapping using observational data pertinent to urban forms, and statistical analysis methods, this research examines the relationship between morphological attributes, climatic variables, and air pollutants-PM2.5. The research employs ENVI-met software to simulate outdoor air temperature, mean radiant temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity for three high density neighbourhoods and a questionnaire survey method to assess outdoor thermal comfort. Triplicane's street canyons show higher temperatures and humidity, especially with higher aspect ratios and limited greenery, resulting in a heat index over 80 and peak afternoon radiant temperatures which are crucial for future urban planning.