The Influence of Street Morphology on Thermal Environment Based on ENVI-met Simulation: A Case Study of Hangzhou Core Area, China

Abstract

The urban thermal environment has become a challenging issue. Streets, as an essential public space in cities, can be laid out in such a way to effectively alleviate a problematic urban thermal environment. In this study, we calculated the layout characteristics of various types of streets in the study area based on network big data combined with field research. We used ENVI-met thermal environment numerical simulation technology to simulate the thermal environment, with a multiple linear regression model to explore the internal relationship between the street-level thermal environment of each land use type and its layout factors. The results indicate that streets in the study area are primarily oriented north–south and east–west, with distinct layout differences among various street types. Additionally, the daily variation trend of thermal comfort PMV of all street types is similar, though north–south streets show a larger daily variation than east–west streets. Lastly, the optimal thermal environment layout differs for each type of street; the relationship between street form and thermal comfort PMV also varies across different street types. This study provides scientific evidence to better understand the relationship between a street’s layout and its thermal environment, offering a theoretical basis for street layout planning aimed at mitigating the urban thermal environment.