Assessment of the mixed local climate zones as the best design for future eco-districts in sub-humid climate: A case of rabat

Kaoutar Ouali

doi:10.22712/susb.20230002

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2023 Vol.14, Issue 1 Next Page

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Assessment of the mixed local climate zones as the best design for future eco-districts in sub-humid climate: A case of rabat

31 March 2023. pp. 3-17

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Abstract

Outdoor comfort accommodates pedestrian traffic and activities and contributes significantly to urban livability and vitality. Thus it is essential for sustainable cities. This case study assesses the mixed zone MZ (open high-rise/open low-rise) as the best morphology choice for eco-neighborhoods in Morocco. Rabat’s Local Climate Zone (LCZ) cartography is established with acceptable accuracy. Five residential precincts (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z5, Z6) randomly chosen from the most present LCZs and one proposed future scenario MZ (Z4), are simulated using ENVI-met 4.4.2, which is experimentally validated. The Z3 (compact low rise) is a particular case because it represents the traditional urban tissue. The hourly spatial average values of 2 m air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, T_mrt, surface temperature, and direct shortwave radiation are analyzed, and the time series of T_mrt and (predicted mean vote) PMV are compared. The highest contrast in thermal comfort provided passively on a typical summer day is 7 hours recorded between the mixed zone and LCZ1. In the sub-humid climate of Rabat, MZ is the best configuration because it combines natural ventilation due to the porosity of the urban tissue, the high ratio of pervious and vegetated surfaces, and the shading cooling effect due to the high-rise of some buildings.

Keywords

urban morphology

eco-neighborhood

local climate zone classification

outdoor thermal comfort

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Information

Publisher :Sustainable Building Research Center (ERC) Innovative Durable Building and Infrastructure Research Center
Publisher(Ko) :건설구조물 내구성혁신 연구센터
Journal Title :International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development
Volume : 14
No :1
Pages :3-17
Received Date : 2023-01-26
Accepted Date : 2023-03-28
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22712/susb.20230002

International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development ISSN:2093-761X(Print) 2093-7628(Online)

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