A study on urban morphology using GIS & remote sensing technique

Urban morphology is the study of the form of human settlements and the process of their formation and transformation. It is an approach in designing urban form that considers both physical and spatial components of the urban structure. Penang was awarded as Heritage City by UNSECO in July 2008. Penang is well known for its heritage character especially in the city of Georgetown with more than 200 years of urban history. Therefore, the study has conducted in Georgetown, Penang in order to identify the evolution of urban morphology and the expansion of development in terms of land use activity. This paper attempts to review a literature that is related to urban morphology in the context of using GIS and remote sensing techniques. These techniques are most widely used and the development in both technology applications has led to significant improvement in capability for decision making process. Therefore, it will help to investigate the past and present patterns and trends of urban growth in Georgetown, Penang. Thus, this finding would contribute to understand the interrelation between urban morphology study and the applications of GIS and remote sensing and its influence on creating sustainable and resilience of metropolitan area, city, town or even village

Tool for Heat Island Simulation (THIS) and simulation of different urban scenarios

This paper presents the development of a simulation model, which was incorporated into a GIS in order to calculate the maximum intensity of ur-ban heat islands based on urban geometry data. The methodology of this study is based on a theoretical-numerical basis (Oke?s model), followed by the development of a calculation algorithm incorporated into the GIS plat-form, which is then submitted to an adjustment and used as exemplifica-tion. The results show that for the same value of H/W ratio, urban canyons with greater roughness result in lower heat island intensity values in rela-tion to the less rough canyons.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of the urban canyon geometry in the nocturnal heat island intensity: analysis by a simplified model adapted to a GIS

A geometria urbana é um dos fatores de maior influência na intensidade da ilha de calor urbana. Seu estudo requer a caracterização de cânions urbanos, geralmente medidos pela relação entre a altura dos edifícios e a largura da rua (H/W), conceito aplicado no modelo numérico de Oke em 1981. O objetivo deste artigo é verificar o impacto da geometria do cânion urbano na intensidade de ilhas de calor noturna. Para isso, foram realizados levantamento de dados climáticos e de geometria urbana em duas cidades brasileiras. Os valores de intensidade de ilha de calor foram confrontados com os simulados pelo modelo original de Oke (1981), o qual foi calibrado e adaptado à plataforma SIG, de forma a possibilitar a incorporação de outro parâmetro de geometria, além da relação H/W: o comprimento de rugosidade. Esse processo gerou uma nova ferramenta de cálculo, que é denominda THIS (Tool for Heat Island Simulation). Aplicou-se o novo modelo para simular alguns cenários urbanos hipotéticos, que representam vários tipos de cânions urbanos. Os resultados demonstraram que cânions urbanos de maior rugosidade amenizam as intensidades de ilha de calor noturna em relação a um cânion de mesmo valor de relação H/W e menor rugosidade.Urban geometry is one of the main factors influencing the development of urban heat islands. The study of urban geometry requires a characterization of urban canyons, which can be usually measured by the H/W ratio (a relationship between the height and the width of a street), a concept applied in a numerical model by Oke in 1981. The aim of this paper is to verify the impact of the canyon geometry on the intensity of the nocturnal urban heat islands. For this purpose, measurements of climate data and urban geometry were conducted in two Brazilian cities. The values of heat island intensity were cross-examined to those generated with the application of the original Oke's model. Therefore, this latter was calibrated and adapted to run in a GIS platform, allowing the incorporation of a geometric parameter other than the H/W ratio - the roughness length. Then, this process produced a new calculation tool, which is called THIS (Tool for Heat Island Simulation). The new model was applied to simulate some hypothetical urban scenarios representing several urban canyons types. The results showed that the urban canyons with the largest roughness reduce the nocturnal heat island intensities in relation to an urban canyon of the same H/W value, but presenting lower roughness rates instead.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

The use of morphological description in neighbourhood planning: form-based assessment of physical character and design rules

Despite ongoing efforts to encourage the use of urban morphology tools into current practice, uptake remains limited. Shortcomings are largely attributed to time and resource intensive methods of historical settlement transformation study. However, developments in quantitative morphological approaches offer new possibilities for efficiency and easier adoption of research tools in practice. This paper proposes the use of typo-morphology methods to inform the adoption of form-based design guidance in neighbourhood master plans. The aim of the study is to develop a comprehensive yet flexible method for form-based character assessment (FBCA) of residential streets. The resulting FBCA classification identifies streets where compliance with form-based design rules could be tightened. The FBCA method is empirically tested in the context of the local neighbourhood plan for Radlett, Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, offering reflections from practice on the usefulness and limitations of the method

Transitional Morphologies and Urban Forms: Generation and Regeneration Processes—An Agenda

Grounded in the study of urban morphology, this position paper seeks to overcome the analysis of the permanent elements of a city in the search for a transitional paradigm in urban morphology, with the aim of grasping the dynamics of urban evolution and providing operative tools for the design of urban regeneration through an adaptive approach. Four actions for urban analysis are suggested here to highlight urban dynamics through the use of different tools: (a) sorting the transitional steps of urban morphologies (within rapid market processes), (b) underlining rules and processes that characterize urban coding in transitions, (c) mapping urban assemblages in an adaptive city, and (d) reading and representing the phenomenon of urban permutation. The results of this multifaceted and multidimensional set of analytical tools make it possible to outline a new paradigm for design thinking that moves towards a parametric approach to the urban design of cities in transition by broadening the extent of the urban regeneration process and supporting urban policies in the framework of a community-based approach

Impacto da geometria do cânion urbano na intensidade de ilha de calor noturna: análise através de um modelo simplificado adaptado a um SIG

A geometria urbana é um dos fatores de maior influência na intensidade da ilha de calor urbana. Seu estudo requer a caracterização de cânions urbanos, geralmente medidos pela relação entre a altura dos edifícios e a largura da rua (H/W), conceito aplicado no modelo numérico de Oke em 1981. O objetivo deste artigo é verificar o impacto da geometria do cânion urbano na intensidade de ilhas de calor noturna. Para isso, foram realizados levantamento de dados climáticos e de geometria urbana em duas cidades brasileiras. Os valores de intensidade de ilha de calor foram confrontados com os simulados pelo modelo original de Oke (1981), o qual foi calibrado e adaptado à plataforma SIG, de forma a possibilitar a incorporação de outro parâmetro de geometria, além da relação H/W: o comprimento de rugosidade. Esse processo gerou uma nova ferramenta de cálculo, que é denominda THIS (Tool for Heat Island Simulation). Aplicou-se o novo modelo para simular alguns cenários urbanos hipotéticos, que representam vários tipos de cânions urbanos. Os resultados demonstraram que cânions urbanos de maior rugosidade amenizam as intensidades de ilha de calor noturna em relação a um cânion de mesmo valor de relação H/W e menor rugosidade

Urban geometry and environmental performance in real urban forms

Solar radiation is energy, a natural and inexhaustible source of heat and light, and as such a major factor to be considered for enhancing urban environmental sustainability. Solar availability on buildings determines to a large degree their active and passive solar potential; whereas, the insolation of open spaces affects their microclimate and in turn, their use and liveability. Solar objectives are thus multiple and may also be conflicting in time and space, especially in temperate climates, where thermal comfort needs vary in seasons. The subject of the thesis is the relationship between urban geometry and environmental performance of urban forms, explored at the neighbourhood scale and in real urban areas. Specifically, the research investigates statistically casual relationships of urban geometry with environmental phenomena related, directly or indirectly, to the availability of solar radiation. Full consideration is given to the varying solar geometry as a major parameter affecting the interaction between urban geometry and solar radiation, lending it a temporal and geographical -related to latitude- character. The research subject is explored through three distinct studies, which share the same methodology investigating particular topics under the same thematic umbrella. The first and the third study, in the order of these being presented, investigate phenomena occurring in open spaces, namely insolation and thermal diversity; whereas, the second study examines solar availability in open spaces and on building façades. In the methodology, urban geometry is distinguished into built density, which is associated negatively with solar availability but positively with sustainability at the city-scale, and urban layout. The former expresses total built volume in a site, and the latter is represented by a set of quantified geometric parameters which characterise the way in which the built volume is allocated and distributed within the site. This distinction aims to provide evidence for the significance of urban layout in modifying the solar urban environment as well as addressing conflicting solar design objectives. The performance of the urban forms is examined through a series of performance indicators, namely sky view factor, insolation, solar irradiance and thermal diversity values. Both urban geometry variables and performance indicators are calculated on average in each urban form. The great size of the sample analysed allows their relationships to be investigated in statistical means. The research belongs to the new era of urban environmental studies which make use of digital 3D models of cities to study spatially expressed phenomena in the built environment. It is based entirely on the analysis of existing urban forms, of 500x500m area, found in two European cities, London and Paris. London constitutes the main case study city, whereas Paris is examined for comparison purposes. The two cities are located at similar geographical latitudes and within the same climatic context, but their urban fabrics exemplify very different geometries. The geometric and environmental analysis of the urban forms as well as the elaboration and processing of the output data are performed using computer-based tools and methods, such as MATLAB software and image processing techniques applied in urban digital elevation models (DEMs) and, SOLWEIG and the RADIANCE-based software, PPF, for SVF and solar simulations. The research findings contribute to the field of urban environmental studies and design at multiple levels, presenting a significant theoretical, practical, and methodological value. First, they produce a critical insight about the factors affecting the relationship of urban geometry and sun-related phenomena occurring in the urban environment and lending it a dynamic character. In addition, they provide solid evidence about the enormous potential of urban geometry for promoting multiple -and sometimes conflicting- solar and urban design objectives, informing the relevant on-going discourse. Third, having as case studies real forms in London and Paris, a part of the findings is interpreted into urban design guidelines for enhancing the environmental performance of new and existing areas in the two cities. Last, as the research employs new methods and techniques to explore diverse topics, some of which are relatively new in the literature, it constitutes an important, methodological precedent for future research works

SMART RURAL: eficiência energética e energias renováveis no espaço rural

Entre os diferentes aspectos que contribuem para o desenvolvimento sustentável, a energia constitui um requisito essencial, global e de longo prazo, para a satisfação das necessidades das gerações presentes e futuras. Neste quadro, a presente investigação promove uma visão abrangente do planeamento energético sustentável, que envolve as áreas urbanas e rurais como um todo energeticamente equilibrado. O conceito de Município com Balanço Energético Nulo, significa que as áreas rurais são transformadas em células do território produtoras de energia verde para abastecer as áreas urbanas e emerge como uma hipótese relevante e coerente a comprovar na transição para uma sociedade de baixo carbono. Neste sentido, a investigação assume como fundamenta-ção científica uma nova especialização inteligente para as áreas rurais, associada ao ba-lanço energético municipal, alinhando três domínios de investigação: as fontes de ener-gia renováveis; eficiência energética; e redes inteligentes. Este enquadramento, revela como a abordagem metodológica adoptada resulta num mix de várias disciplinas: Geo-grafia, Planeamento Territorial e Municipal, Urbanismo, Arquitectura e Engenharia Civil. Numa perspectiva empírica, a investigação adopta o método do caso de estudo, selec-cionando os municípios de Arraiolos e de Loures. Do ponto de vista operativo, o modelo SMART RURAL é associado à disciplina do Geodesign, para estabelecer um processo de planeamento capaz de reforçar a eficiência energética e implementar as fontes de ener-gia renovável entre diferentes domínios municipais e escalas espaciais. Desta forma, o a investigação associa o quadro operacional de suporte a um processo de geodesign que combina o Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) e o Modelo de Informação do Edifício (BIM). O modelo SMART RURAL constitui um dos caminhos possíveis na resposta às fa-lhas identificadas no âmbito do referencial metodológico e operativo a aplicar em ma-téria de energias renováveis e eficiência energética. Como conclusão, este trabalho de-mostra a necessidade e oportunidade que decorrem de um rural energeticamente efici-ente, e como tal inteligente, destacando o seu contributo para o conceito de Município com Balanço Energético Nulo e de demonstração do papel decisivo que os Planos Direc-tores Municipais (PDM) podem assumir no desenvolvimento energético sustentável.Among the different aspects that support sustainable development, energy is a critical concern to meet the needs of present and future generations in a global-scale and long-term vision. Going beyond the city boundaries, the present study promotes a compre-hensive view on sustainable energy planning, which involves urban and rural areas as an energetically balanced whole. Here, the concept of Net-Zero Energy Municipality, in which rural areas are turned into green energy exporters to fuel urban areas, in a unique self-sufficient system, is both relevant and coherent within the transition process to-ward a low-carbon society. The study develops scientific understanding on the smart specialization of rural areas associated with municipal energy balance, aligning three re-search domains: renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and smart grids. The recognition of a smart specialization of rural areas, associated with sustainable energy development, places these territories in a new scientific, technological and practical challenge. The above framework, reveals how the methodological approach will result in a blend of various disciplines: Geography, Spatial Planning, Urbanism, Architecture, and Civil Engineering. From an empirical perspective, the research relies on the case study method, selecting the municipalities of Arraiolos and Loures. From a practical per-spective, the SMART RURAL model is associated with the Geodesign discipline, to set up a planning process capable of enhancing energy efficiency and implementing renewable energy sources among different municipal domains and spatial scales. In this way, the study formalizes the operating framework for an innovative geodesign approach, founded on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM). The SMART RURAL model represents one of the possible paths capable to fill the gaps in the methodological and operational referential and related practical problems of renewable energy and energy efficiency planning. Tackling these issues, the study demonstrates the need and opportunity that are associated with an energetically effi-cient countryside, and thus smart, highlighting its valuable contributions especially to-ward the promotion of Net-Zero energy balance between rural and urban areas. It is here that municipalities, through their Municipal Master Plans, must take the lead ad-dressing a comprehensive sustainable energy development model