Urban climate adaptation: an interdisciplinary research experience empowering architecture and urbanism education

Abstract

The world’s cities are growing in size and number. At the same time, the global climate change rises global average temperatures as well as increase weather extreme events. Sao Paulo, the 5th urbanized region in the world, has currently more than 21 million inhabitants and recent studies alert for the increased frequency of extreme climate/weather events in the city. In this context, this work presents an interdisciplinary research experience, based at the Architecture and Urbanism school in partnership with the Atmospheric Sciences’ Department, approaching the interdependencies between urban morphology, green infrastructure, and microclimate in São Paulo, aiming to discuss planning, urban and building design alternatives to counterbalance urban warming effects in a subtropical changing climate. The research team, led by an architecture researcher and an associate researcher from atmospheric sciences, includes a post-doc researcher, graduate and undergraduate students, engaging architecture, urban design, planning, and meteorology dealing with the role of planning, urban and building design for climate change adaptation. This paper briefly summarizes what we have learnt with remote sensing, measurements and numerical simulation encompassing the metropolitan, the neighbourhood and the building scales and discuss the results of an interdisciplinary research empowering architectural education in different levels.

Keywords:

architectural education building design interdisciplinary research urban climate adaptation urban design

References

Alves, C., Duarte, D.; Gonçalves, F. (2016). Residential Buildings’ Thermal Performance and Comfort for the Elderly under Climate Changes Context in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Energy and Buildings, v.114, 62-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.06.044

Alves, C., Duarte, D.; Gonçalves, F. (2021). The recent residential apartment buildings’ thermal performance under the combined effect of the global and the local warming. Energy and Buildings, v. 238, 110828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110828

Alves, C. A. (2019). A produção recente de edifícios residenciais em São Paulo: desempenho e conforto térmico no contexto urbano e climático em transição. PhD Thesis (Architecture and Urbanism) – Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade de São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/T.16.2019.tde-31072019-171853

ASHRAE 55 (2020). Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. Atlanta: ASHRAE. https://www.ashrae.org/

Batista, R., Gonçalves, F. L. T.; ROCHA, R. P. da. (2016). Present climate and future projections of the thermal comfort for the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Climate Change, 137 (3-4), 439–454. http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10584-016-1690-5

Chen, Y., Wong, N. (2006). Thermal benefits of city parks. Energy and Buildings 38, 105–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2005.04.003

Diniz, F. R., Gonçalves, F. L. T., Sheridan, S.. (2020). Heat wave and elderly mortality: Historical analysis and future projection for Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil. Atmosphere, 11, 933. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11090933

Emmanuel, R. (2005). An Urban Approach to Climate-Sensitive Design. Strategies for the Tropics. New York: Spon Press. https://www.routledge.com/An-Urban-Approach-To-Climate-Sensitive-Design-Strategies-for-the-Tropics/Emmanuel/p/book/9780415334105

Ferreira, L. S. (2015). Vegetation Management in São Paulo, Brazil: Clearing of Urban Vegetation and Environmental Compensation. In: Trees. People and the Built Environment II, Birmingham. Proceedings. Birmingham: ICF. 32-42. https://www.charteredforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TPBEII-Paper-Ferreira-01.pdf

Ferreira, L. S. (2019). Vegetação, temperatura de superfície e morfologia urbana: um retrato da região metropolitana de São Paulo. PhD Thesis (Architecture and Urbanism) - Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade de São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/T.16.2019.tde-02102019-173844

Ferreira, L. S.; Duarte, D. H. S. (2019). Exploring the relationship between urban form, land surface temperature and vegetation indices in a subtropical megacity. Urban Climate, 27, 105-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2018.11.002

Gonçalves, F. L. T., Braun, S., Silva Dias, P. L. Sharovsky, R. (2007). Influences of the weather and air pollutants on cardiovascular disease in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo. Environmental Research, v. 104, 275-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2007.01.004

Gusson, C. S. (2020). O impacto da verticalização no microclima urbano e no conforto térmico na escala do pedestre: o papel da geometria e da envoltória dos edifícios. PhD Thesis (Architecture and Urbanism) - Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade de São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/T.16.2020.tde-29032021-104403

Gusson, C. S.; Simon, H.; Duarte, D. H. S. (2020). Impact of Built Density and Surface Materials on Urban Microclimate for Sao Paulo, Brazil: Simulation of Different Scenarios Using ENVI-met Full Forcing Tool. In: 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, A Coruña. Planning Post Carbon Cities. A Coruña: University of A Coruña and Asoc. PLEA2020 Planning Post Carbon Cities. v. 1. 818-823. https://doi.org/10.17979/spudc.9788497497947

Gusson, C.; Duarte, D. (2018). Microclimatic behaviour of two densely built areas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In: 10th International Conference on Urban Climate – ICUC. Proceedings… New York. https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/meetings-events/ams-meetings/10th-international-conference-on-urban-climate-14th-symposium-on-the-urban-environment/

IAG/USP (s.d). Boletim Climatológico Anual da Estação Meteorológica do IAG/USP. http://www.estacao.iag.usp.br/

IBGE (2011). Censo Demográfico 2010. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. https://censo2010.ibge.gov.br/resultados.html

IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014. Geneva: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/

IPCC (2018). Global Warming of 1.5 oC. Special Report. Geneva: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/

IPCC (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis (WGI). Geneva: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/

IPCC (2022). Climate Change 2022. Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability (WGII). Chapter 6: Cities, settlements and key infrastructure. Geneva: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/

Longarine, A.; Duarte, D. (2017). Caracterização da produção recente de edifícios residenciais multifamiliares na cidade de São Paulo: Subsídios para estudos de desempenho térmico das unidades e de impactos na mobilidade urbana. In: 17a Conferência Internacional da LARES - Latin American Real Estate Society, São Paulo. Latin American Real Estate Society. São Paulo: LARES, v. 1. 1-30. https://lares.architexturez.net/doc/oai-lares-id-lares-2017-paper-80

Marengo, J. A. (2006). Mudanças climáticas globais e seus efeitos sobre a biodiversidade: caracterização do clima atual e definição das alterações climáticas para o território brasileiro ao longo do século XXI. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. https://cetesb.sp.gov.br/inventario-gee-sp/2006/10/24/mudancas-climaticas-globais-e-seus-efeitos-sobre-a-biodiversidade-caracterizacao-do-clima-atual-e-definicao-das-alteracoes-climaticas-para-o-territorio-brasileiro-ao-longo-do-seculo-xxi/

Nobre, C. A. et al. (2010). Vulnerabilidade das Megacidades Brasileiras às Mudanças climáticas: Região metropolitana de São Paulo. Sumário executivo. https://cetesb.sp.gov.br/proclima/2010/05/13/vulnerabilidades-das-megacidades-brasileiras-as-mudancas-climaticas-regiao-metropolitana-de-sao-paulo/

ONG, B. L. et al. (2012). Green Plot Ratio - Past, Present and Future. In: Tropics 2050. iNTA 2012 - 4th International Network for Tropical Architecture. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236634754_Green_Plot_Ratio_-_Past_Present_Future

ONG, B. L. (2002). Green Plot Ratio: An Ecological Measure for Architecture and Urban Planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, v.63, 197-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00191-3

PBMC (2016). Mudanças Climáticas e Cidades. Relatório Especial do Painel Brasileiro de Mudanças Climáticas. http://www.pbmc.coppe.ufrj.br/documentos/Relatorio_UM_v10-2017-1.pdf

Santamouris, M. (2014). On the energy impact of urban heat island and global warming on buildings. Energy and Buildings, v. 82, 100-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.07.022

SÃO PAULO (s.d.). Prefeitura de São Paulo. Municipal Ordinances. http://www.capital.sp.gov.br/

Shinzato, P.; Simon, H.; Duarte, D.; Bruse, M. (2019). Calibration process and parametrization of tropical plants using ENVI-met V4. Sao Paulo case study. Architectural Science Review, v.62, 2, 112–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2018.1563522

Shinzato, P.; Simon, H.; Bruse, M.; Duarte, D. (2018). Effect of Green Infrastructure Based on Microclimatic Simulations of Street Trees Scenarios. Case Study: Sao Paulo, Brazil. In: International Conference on Urban Climate - ICUC10, New York. https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/meetings-events/ams-meetings/10th-international-conference-on-urban-climate-14th-symposium-on-the-urban-environment/

Silva, P. W. S. (2018). O impacto das fachadas verdes nos microclimas urbanos.. Master Dissertation (Architecture and Urbanism) – Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade de São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/D.16.2018.tde-13092018-140952

Silva, P. W. Stark; Duarte, D. (2018). Green Walls Simulation for Subtropical Climates: Sensitivity tests with ENVI-met V4. In: PLEA 2018 - Passive and Low Energy Architecture, 2018, Hong Kong. Smart and healthy within the two-degree limit. Hong Kong: PLEA - Passive and Low Energy Architecture. v. 3. 1009-1010. http://www.plea-arch.org/index.php/plea-proceedings/

Stewart, I. Oke, T. (2012). Local climate zones for urban temperature studies. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society v. 93, 1879-1900. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00019.1

Stone, B. (2012). The city and the coming climate. Climate Changes in the Places we live. New York: Cambridge. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/city-and-the-coming-climate/6BC2C28AF3A6D1E9FA1974F5E66149DF

Tsuda, F. P.; Duarte, D. (2018). The Conflicts between the Simplification of Building Regulations and the Challenge of Building Cities for a Changing Climate: The case of Sao Paulo city. In: PLEA 2018 - Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Hong Kong. Smart and healthy within the two-degree limit. Proceedings. Hong Kong: PLEA. v. 3. 1159-1160. http://www.plea-arch.org/index.php/plea-proceedings/

Tsuda, F. P. (2019). Conforto, adequação climática e o papel dos códigos de edificações: os desafios de São Paulo frente ao estado da arte no Brasil e no mundo. Master Dissertation (Architecture and Urbanism) – Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade de São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/D.16.2019.tde-17102019-102350

UN Environment (2019). Global Environment Outlook 6, GEO6. https://www.unep.org/resources/global-environment-outlook-6#

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision (ST/ESA/SER.A/420). New York: United Nations. https://population.un.org/wup/Publications/Files/WUP2018-Report.pdf

Wu, A. Pett, J. (2006). Cold comfort for Kyoto? Carbon implications from increasing residential cooling demand. A scoping report. ACE: London. http://pett-projects.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/ACE-Research-2006-08-Cold-Comfort-for-Kyoto-full-report1.pdf

Reference by