Evaluating the achievement of sustainable ecological neighborhood indicators using the ENVI-MET simulation program

Abstract

Climate change and the sharp rise in temperatures pose a significant challenge to urban settlements in arid regions, particularly in the absence of effective environmental planning standards. This study aims to evaluate thermal comfort as a planning indicator for sustainable ecological neighborhoods within the built and open environments of urban settlements. The methodology employed three-dimensional digital simulation using ENVI-met software, a three-dimensional simulation tool used to study and analyze microclimate in urban environments. The software allows for the evaluation of environmental interactions between buildings, vegetation, and surfaces to predict phenomena such as heat islands and improve outdoor thermal comfort. Key environmental indicators were modeled at peak solar radiation. These indicators included latent air temperature, mean radiant temperature (MRT), wind speed, sky view factor (SVF), and the predicted mean temperature (PMV). The simulation results revealed environmental degradation in the Abu Khalid neighborhood of Najaf, where temperatures jumped from 42.9°C at noon to approximately 48°C in the afternoon.