A Climatic Responsive Urban Planning Model for High Density City: Singapore's Commercial District

Abstract

Local climate condition and urban morphology affect air temperature generated within urban canopy layer which related to urban heat island (UHI) intensity and later impacts on outdoor thermal comfort and urban energy usage. Climatic responsive urban planning by careful consideration on urban morphology parameters of urban corridor width, building height, urban surface materials, sky view factor (SVF) and vegetation help to improve urban environment quality. This study mainly focuses on commercial district and observes impacts of various urban structures configurations towards air temperature by interpolating climatic and urban morphology predictors. The urban structures indeed show relation with level of air temperature generated although vegetation also contributes in reducing air temperature through its evapotranspiration process. Therefore the understanding of relation between urban morphology with thermal performance and UHI benefits in future urban planning and development.