Modeling microclimatic effects of trees and green roofs/façades in ENVI-met: Sensitivity tests and proposed model library

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Liu, Zhixin, Cheng, Ka Yuen, Sinsel, Tim, Simon, Helge, Jim, CY, Morakinyo, Tobi Eniolu, He, Yueyang, Yin, Shi, Ouyang, Wanlu, Shi, Yuan ORCID: 0000-0003-4011-8735 et al (show 1 more authors) and Ng, Edward (2023) Modeling microclimatic effects of trees and green roofs/façades in ENVI-met: Sensitivity tests and proposed model library BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT, 244. p. 110759. ISSN 0360-1323, 1873-684X

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Abstract

Urban green infrastructure furnishes one of the most effective ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change and the consequent thermal environment deterioration. ENVI-met, a holistic computational fluid dynamics model with various plant modules, has become a principal simulation tool to evaluate the thermal effects of urban greenery. This study emphasized the significance of clear and accurate ENVI-met vegetation modeling, aiming to formulate strategies to boost modeling data quality, veracity and rigor of ENVI-met-based simulation studies. This study applied a two-step framework. First, a series of sensitivity tests were conducted under hot and humid meteorological conditions to identify the microclimate-sensitive parameters and their relative cooling effects at the pedestrian level. The results identified leaf area density as the most significant parameter in ENVI-met tree modeling. Some compromises on root properties' input accuracy could be tolerated since they would not considerably hamper the overall simulation quality at the pedestrian level. For green roof/façade modeling, leaf area index and leaf angle distribution were significant and should be accurately input to ensure simulation quality. Second, for the microclimate-sensitive parameters in modeling, this study used commonly-planted species in subtropical South China cities to demonstrate a systematic workflow of developing an ENVI-met vegetation model library. The library could include basic plant physical traits, plant albums, reference values of the microclimate-sensitive parameters, and recommended alternative modeling data sources. The vegetation model library could provide a helpful and actionable package from which researchers can quickly obtain accurate input values without highly specialized knowledge or instruments.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ENVI-met, Green roof and facade, Microclimate, Model library, Urban tree, Vegetation modeling
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	22 Dec 2023 10:36
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2024 19:03
DOI:	10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110759
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177628
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