The Effect of Urban Geometry on Microclimate and Outdoor Thermal Comfort (Downtown Tucson, Arizona as case study)

Abstract

As climate change continues to increase, the way we are planning and building our cities needs to be reexamined, especially in places that have been affected by it. One of these regions is the southwest region of the United States which is considered one of the most affected regions by climate change behind Alaska according to the National Climate Assessment (2013). The area has been witnessing prolonged heat waves, drought, and wildfires. This thesis aims to study one of the primary urban locations in Tucson, Arizona, Congress Street, in terms of how the urban geometry affects the microclimate and thus affects the outdoor thermal comfort level. It also compares how accurate simulation weather tools are to real-world field data.