Weaving the Fragmented Urban Landscapes along Transit Corridor through Climate Smart Landscapes: a Case of Commercial Neighborhood, MP Nagar, Bhopal (India)

Abstract

Urbanization, coupled with climate change, poses significant risk particularly in urban areas where the proliferation of concrete structures is continuously increasing and has created an archipelago of urban green spaces. The resultant environmental changes such as urban heat islands, have led to a limited outdoor activities, exacerbating concerns about spatial degradation, thermal discomfort affecting health and well-being. Assessments of climate related impacts on urban redevelopment are crucial to reducing environmental vulnerabilities, especially in growing cities of emerging economies like Bhopal which has hot and arid climate. The study was conducted along an under construction elevated transit corridor of a commercial area. According to literature studies on Local Climate Zones (LCZ), it has been established that urban cover modifies the urban microclimate. Responding to the need to harmonize aesthetics with practical functionality and address the diminishing quality of urban open spaces and experience, this study aims to investigate the impact of this elevated transit corridor on the overall urban microclimate. It aims to examine the potential of vegetation that can mitigate heat stress and improve outdoor thermal comfort and activity time by reducing ambient air temperature (Ta) and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) temperatures through evidence-based landscape strategies and proactive design. The primary data was collected from site through survey and mapped using Auto-cad. The field measurements like air temperature, Surface temperature, Relative humidity and Wind velocity (Ta,Ts, Rh and V) were recorded on site which was further modeled and simulated using 3d micro climatic analytical model ENVI-met software. The summer scenario of the existing base case was analyzed considering the meteorological data, and simulations were conducted to understand the severity of heat stress and predict the thermal discomfort of the user. The proposed vegetation scenarios were modeled and simulated to assess the direct and indirect impacts on reducing ambient and Physiological Equivalent Temperature. This study helps the designers, landscape architects, planners, and architects etc. to arrive at a scientific way to enhance the overall climate performance of outdoor spaces.