Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
LAND, cilt.14, sa.12, ss.1-24, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)
In the context of global climate change and rapid urbanization, the Urban Heat Island
(UHI) effect has become a pressing environmental and public health concern, particularly
in semiarid regions. This study evaluates the microclimatic performance of various urban
design strategies aimed at enhancing thermal comfort along a densely built-up street in
Van, a medium-sized city located in Turkey’s semiarid climate zone. Using ENVI-met
5.7.2, nine alternative scenarios were simulated, incorporating different configurations
of vegetation cover (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%), ground surface materials, and green roof applications
(0%, 25%, 50%, 75%). Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and other
thermal comfort indicators were assessed at multiple time intervals on the hottest summer
day. Results indicate that increasing vegetation cover substantially reduces PET values,
with a maximum reduction of 3.0 ◦C observed in the 75% vegetation scenario. While the
scenario with no vegetation but light-colored pavements achieved a 1.8 ◦C reduction in air
temperature at 2:00 p.m., the maximum PET value remained unchanged. Conversely, using
dark-colored asphalt decreased the average air temperature by 1 ◦C and improved the
thermal comfort level by reducing the PET by 0.4 ◦C compared to a non-vegetated scenario.
The scenario with the highest overall greenery led to a 2.9 ◦C drop in air temperature
and a 12.8 ◦C reduction in average PET at 2:00 p.m. compared to other scenarios. The
study provides evidence-based recommendations for human-centered urban planning
and advocates for the integration of microclimate simulation tools in the early stages of
urban development.