Extraction of environmental indicators of vegetation design inside small neighborhoods

Abstract

The urban heat island effect and rising temperatures in urban areas significantly impact the standard of living and energy consumption, especially in regions like Palestine with high population density and rapid urbanization. This study explores sustainable urban solutions, focusing on enhancing microclimates and improving the thermal performance of residential buildings through strategic tree planting. Green infrastructure, such as increased vegetation, is recognized for its potential to mitigate heat islands, enhance pedestrian thermal performance, and improve air quality. However, the optimal tree typologies and configurations for these benefits remain under-researched, particularly in Palestinian urban areas. The research aim is to identify and select the optimal tree typologies that enhance microclimate and building thermal performance in residential compounds in Palestine. It includes investigating different tree configurations, green coverage ratios, and tree physical properties to determine their impact on the microclimate and thermal performance. Specific objectives include testing the ideal tree configurations for various outdoor space morphologies in which trees influence local climate conditions. The study ultimately seeks to develop urban greening tailored to the Palestinian context, promoting sustainable urban development and resilience to climate change. This study utilizes a quantitative research approach, incorporating data collection techniques such as on-site observations, field surveys, and building sample analyses. The ENVI-met software was employed to simulate microclimatic factors, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. Sensors were strategically placed at various heights around the tree formations to capture microclimatic conditions and assess the influence of tree configurations on the surrounding built environment at different vertical levels. As Envi-met program is limited in its ability to simulate indoor environments, Design builder program was employed to evaluate the interior thermal comfort coefficients of the spaces and quantify the influence of the tree scenarios on these indoor conditions. The findings highlight the influence of tree characteristics, such as crown shape, density, trunk size, and height, on thermal performance. Dense tree crowns and medium-sized trunks were found to be effective in reducing temperature and increasing humidity. For closed II spaces, trees with a vase-shaped crown and a height of 10 meters were found to be optimal, while cylindrical crowns and a height of 5 meters were most beneficial in open areas. The research emphasizes the crucial role of strategic tree placement, aligned with prevailing wind directions and integrated with other green infrastructure elements (Green roof and green wall), in enhancing thermal comfort within urban environments. Keywords: Vegetation typologies, Urban heat island, Planting design, Outdoor thermal comfort, Pedestrian thermal comfort, Trees canopies