Speaker
Description
As urbanization and climate change intensify globally, cities face increasing challenges related to thermal comfort and the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which can significantly affect public health, energy consumption, and overall urban resilience. In Morocco, where rapid urban growth is widespread, integrating adaptive design strategies into architecture and planning is essential for building sustainable and climate-resilient cities. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of urban design elements—such as aspect ratios, urban materials, and vegetation—on thermal comfort and the microclimate, using selected Moroccan cities as case studies. Utilizing the advanced simulation software ENVI-met 5.7, we model and analyze various spatial configurations to assess their performance under hot climate scenarios. The findings demonstrate that vegetation can significantly mitigate heat stress by providing shade and facilitating evapotranspiration. Similarly, compact urban forms, with higher aspect ratios, also contribute to cooler environments by increasing shading. In contrast, sprawling urban configurations – characterized by low aspect ratios and limited vegetation– exacerbate discomfort due to increased solar exposure and heat-retaining materials. This study seeks to highlight the importance of climate-responsive planning and digital modeling tools in guiding adaptive architectural and planning decisions, and their role in fostering urban resilience in heat-challenged regions.
