Browsing by Author "ALSUWAIDI, ABDALLA"

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    Investigation of Urban Ventilation Strategies for the Improvement of Wind Comfort Levels in Sharjah
    (The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-04) ALSUWAIDI, ABDALLA; Professor Hanan Taleb
    This study examines the influence of urban design strategies on wind comfort in Sharjah, UAE, through the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and SimScale software simulations. Analyzing UTCI values at 20 points within the city, this research evaluates the effects of various urban scenarios, including building orientations, open spaces, building heights, vegetation, and building-to-street width ratios, on urban climate management. Key findings indicate significant impacts of urban design on microclimates and comfort levels. The North-South orientation notably reduces UTCI values in all studied months, particularly in December by 3.91%, while the West-East orientation generally enhances thermal comfort, despite some exceptions in April and August. The Northeast-Southwest orientation shows mixed results, underperforming relative to the North-South and West-East orientations. Building heights and vegetation placement, especially tree spacing, crucially affect UTCI values, offering methods to lessen urban heat. The study further explores the building height to street width ratio's positive role in urban thermal comfort, with computational fluid dynamics simulations revealing key airflow patterns that highlight urban design's role in optimizing wind flow and preventing adverse conditions. Ultimately, this research presents a detailed guide for urban designers, planners, and policymakers on improving thermal comfort and sustainability in city layouts, emphasizing strategic urban planning's importance in combating climate change and enhancing urban resilience and livability.