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Outdoor environmental comfort evaluation for retail planning in a tropical business district using Integrated Environmental Modeller

Author

Listed:
  • Po-Yen Lai
  • Wee Shing Koh
  • Harish Gopalan
  • Huizhe Liu
  • Dias Leong
  • Hyosoo Lee
  • Johnathan Goh
  • Jiun Yeu Lim
  • Jacob Ang
  • Gibert Peh
  • Gilbert Cher
  • Cheng Hui Eng
  • Jia Li Goh
  • Edmund Tan
  • James Tan

Abstract

This research proposes a simulation-based assessment of outdoor thermal and acoustic comfort for a planned business urban district in Singapore for retail planning using a customized OpenFOAM-centric multi-physics environmental simulation platform called the Integrated Environmental Modeller (IEM). IEM was employed to simulate the coupled impacts of solar radiation on wind and air temperature and wind and air temperature effects on traffic noise propagation in the district on the equinox and solstice day of the hottest period. Using IEM simulation results, we computed the thermal and acoustic comfort acceptability indicators derived from local field studies’ results. The spatial distribution of environmental comfort acceptability indicators in the worst-case scenario can be used to distinguish the zones exposed to thermal or noise influence. The noise-affected zones are near the main roads and overlap a part of the thermal-affected area. The thermal-affected area is almost everywhere in the studied sites in the worst-case scenario. Having outdoor retail spaces with both poor thermal and acoustic comfort is not recommended if the thermal and acoustic comfort cannot be improved simultaneously. For the high-level retail planning, a simplified parametric analysis considering solar irradiance blockage and wind speed enhancements, is provided. Considering the worst-case scenario, ≥50% thermal acceptability can be achieved by blocking 54%-68% solar irradiance among the pedestrian thoroughfares and the retail spaces. Coupled together, blocking the solar irradiance and enhancing the wind speed can further improve thermal comfort locally. These results can guide the retail mix (e.g., al fresco restaurants, pop-up kiosks etc.) near high footfall areas and provide reference for future plans combining landscape and infrastructure, (e.g., trees with shelter walkaways, green walls with outdoor ventilation fans etc.) taking into account the environmental acceptability of people working in or visiting the tropical urban district.

Suggested Citation

  • Po-Yen Lai & Wee Shing Koh & Harish Gopalan & Huizhe Liu & Dias Leong & Hyosoo Lee & Johnathan Goh & Jiun Yeu Lim & Jacob Ang & Gibert Peh & Gilbert Cher & Cheng Hui Eng & Jia Li Goh & Edmund Tan & Ja, 2023. "Outdoor environmental comfort evaluation for retail planning in a tropical business district using Integrated Environmental Modeller," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0282106
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282106
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sheikh Ahmad Zaki & Nor Suhada Azid & Mohd Fairuz Shahidan & Mohamad Zaki Hassan & Mohd Yusof Md Daud & Nor Azlina Abu Bakar & Mohamed Sukri Mat Ali & Fitri Yakub, 2020. "Analysis of Urban Morphological Effect on the Microclimate of the Urban Residential Area of Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur Using a Geospatial Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-29, September.
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    4. Nazanin Nasrollahi & Amir Ghosouri & Jamal Khodakarami & Mohammad Taleghani, 2020. "Heat-Mitigation Strategies to Improve Pedestrian Thermal Comfort in Urban Environments: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-23, November.
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