Multiscale Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Support Climate-Sensitive Design and Planning

The urban and climate transformations that cities will face in the coming years to address the climate crisis may allow for experimentation with innovative circular and climate-sensitive strategies. These solutions are currently little considered in regeneration practices and not included in urban planning tools. This study presents the preliminary results of a research project supporting the Municipality of Trento, Italy, for urban transformations and the regeneration of the built environment. The outcomes are advanced tools for planners and policymakers focusing on promoting well-being and health in the context of climate change, with a specific focus on summer outdoor thermal comfort. The tools are derived from both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including multiscale microclimate modelling and investigation of the citizens’ spatial and thermal perception. In particular, the variation in thermal comfort predictors such as air temperature, mean radiant temperature and physiological equivalent temperature are assessed in the valley floor of Trento. The indices are calculated across four neighbourhoods of the city, characterised by different Local Climate Zones features (LCZ 2, LCZ 5, LCZ 6 and LCZ 8), coupling the use of Urban Weather Generator (UWG) and ENVI-met software tools. The simulations allow a comparison between the areas for a 24-hour timespan during a typical hot summer day. In addition, a survey was shared with residents in summer 2024 to create a collaborative map of comfortable and uncomfortable places in the city on typical summer days. Starting from the assessment of microclimate in different neighbourhoods and the subjective perceptions of the citizens, the research aims to support policymakers with (in)formative tools that foster evidence-based decision-making processes. The findings are strongly practice-oriented and encourage greater consideration of outdoor health and comfort issues in urban design, including population involvement to ensure an inclusive transition.