Enhancing outdoor thermal comfort in densely built-up areas through green infrastructure

Green infrastructure in urban areas offers a significant opportunity to enhance environmental conditions and reduce CO2 emissions, paving the way for climate-neutral cities in the coming decades. The integration of vertical or horizontal green spaces in public areas can effectively improve microclimate conditions and outdoor thermal comfort, thereby contributing to energy savings for cooling buildings during the summer months.

The collaborative efforts of the Novi Sad Urban Climate Lab (NSUCL) at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, in partnership with architecture experts, have demonstrated that utilizing micrometeorological measurements alongside comprehensive datasets can effectively create the design of green infrastructure. This approach has shown promising results in mitigating the urban heat island effect and enhancing outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) in densely built urban settings. Notably, studies reveal that strategically placing additional trees—considering various crown shapes—can lower OTC values at specific locations by up to 6.11°C (UTCI), underscoring the critical importance of selecting optimal tree placements to maximize thermal comfort on hot summer days. The impact of additional trees on OTC conditions was assessed at three selected locations: Catholic Porta Square, Gymnasium Street (with a north-south orientation), and Laze Teleckog Street (with a southeast-northwest orientation). These locations represent densely built urban morphologies characterized as intensive pedestrian zones in downtown of Novi Sad city.

Finally, encouraging the adoption of these green concepts can lead to more sustainable urban environments, ultimately fostering healthier, more livable cities for current and future generations.

Acknowledgement: The research was supported by the project no. 003026234 2024 09418 003 000 000 001, funded by the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (regional government).