Mitigation of urban heat island and improving thermal comfort conditions for the city of Bangalore, India, by evaluating the cooling potential of vegetation in an urban neighborhood
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This thesis report aims to evaluate the summer cooling effect of vegetation to reduce UHI and improve thermal comfort in Bangalore, India. The city is experiencing a microclimatic shift due to urbanization. The spatial growth of the town has continuously increased from 696 sq. km to 2185 sq. km within ten years (2006 to 2016) (Heather S, 2019). Using the ENVI-met model for simulations at the pedestrian height, the study investigated the influence of adding greenery on the urban microclimate. The results show the combination of trees and grass has a more significant cooling effect with potential air temperature reduction between 4°C to 11°C and relative humidity of 6% to 26% during the hottest hours of the day when compared to the base model. Overall thermal mass map of the relative humidity indicates that percentage is lower at night and higher in the morning. This study can help planners better understand the role of vegetation in reducing Urban Heat Island (UHI), which gives them the necessary, cost-effective tools to implement new solutions for the city’s urban development to mitigate the impacts of UHI on the environment provide a better living for all