| Title |
Building Adjustment Simulation Study for Heat Environment Improvement in the Old Downtown |
| Authors |
유희철(Yu, Hui-Cheol) ; 이소영(Lee, So-Yeong) ; 주희선(Joo, Hee-Sun) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2025.41.11.215 |
| Keywords |
Urban Heat Island; Old Urban District; Thermal Environment Improvement; ENVI-met |
| Abstract |
The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon, driven by climate change and urbanization, has emerged as a major environmental issue that
undermines the health and quality of life of urban residents, particularly during the summer. Old downtown areas, characterized by
high-density and low-rise structures, are structurally vulnerable to heat due to building deterioration and a lack of green spaces, necessitating
urgent spatial countermeasures. This study quantitatively analyzed the impact of building density and greening strategies on the urban
microclimate in an old downtown setting, and compared the effectiveness and limitations of each strategy. Four scenarios were developed?
adjusting building footprint, modifying building height, rooftop greening, and wall greening?based on actual urban planning regulations and
physical constraints. Using ENVI-met simulations, temperature changes were analyzed by time of day. The results showed that building height
adjustment was the most effective strategy for reducing daytime temperatures (12:00 and 18:00), but it also led to increased nighttime
temperatures (06:00 and 24:00) due to reduced radiative cooling, demonstrating a dual effect. In contrast, wall greening consistently lowered
temperatures across all time periods and proved particularly effective in mitigating nighttime heat and tropical nights. Rooftop greening and
footprint adjustment strategies showed relatively limited impacts on temperature and were more appropriate as complementary measures rather
than standalone solutions. This study empirically identified the time-specific responses of each strategy in heat-vulnerable areas like old
downtowns and highlights the necessity of an integrated and complementary approach rather than relying on a single strategy. The findings
contribute to the development of climate adaptation plans for high-density urban areas and the establishment of simulation-based thermal
performance evaluation systems. |