179: Plant Canopy Design in Modifying Urban ThermalEnvironment: Theory and Guidelines

Abstract

Recent growing interests in the urban heat island phenomenon originate from the consequences from improper design planning, increased urbanization and deterioration in the outdoor environment. This phenomenon invites understanding of the basic theories in modifying urban thermal environment by integrating the key microclimate components of the dynamic outdoor thermal cycle (wind velocity, humidity, temperature and radiation) in the whole design process. Such approach has been demonstrated in the use of vegetations and plant canopies in the fields of urban and landscape planning, architectural design and environmental engineering. In addition, good plant canopy arrangements and design approach had been shown to promote latent-heat evaporation and solar shading in significant way. These approaches, incorporated into the design process, could provide an equilibrium cycle in mitigating urban heat island. However, despite these and existing architectural planning and landscape design principles, many planting schemes are poorly constructed. Therefore, such schemes can be improved through understanding and implementation of effective urban thermal environment design theories and guidelines. This paper will describe the importance of investigating the impact of comprehensive relationships between plant canopy design parameter for thermal comfort and outdoor thermal environment.