Poster Presentation Skin Cancer 2024

Urban overheating mitigation through solar shading in an Australian low socioeconomic status area (#158)

Shamila Haddad 1 , Shiva Mardani 2 , Amelia Smit 3 4 , Arianna Brambila 5
  1. School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University Of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. The Daffodil Centre, University Of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. Melanoma Institute Australia, University Of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University Of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Urban overheating and elevated levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are severe environmental concerns. They can adversely affect human health, productivity, and well-being. Australia is already impacted by prolonged and more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and bushfires. Urban overheating is a common problem in Australian cities and projected to be increased in future leading to increased mortality and morbidity rates, energy consumption and consequent financial burdens. Advanced heat mitigation strategies have been developed to help cities adapt to high temperatures and provide outdoor thermal comfort for pedestrians. Solar control is an effective technique for outdoor cooling and environmental sun protection. However, an efficient and economical method that can provide optimal outdoor cooling to the human body in the built environment is lacking. There are also inequities in shade availability for those living in low socioeconomic status (SES) areas. This study explores the development of different solar control strategies that could be employed for urban dwellers. It presents the results of field measurement conducted in Fairfield, which presents the lowest SES area within metropolitan Sydney, Australia, and microclimate simulations performed in urban open spaces during the summer period. Here, we used ENVI-met microclimate simulation tool to assess ambient and surface temperature reduction under different shading configurations as well as outdoor thermal comfort by assessing Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results demonstrates that technological possibilities to cool urban environments and provide comfort to pedestrians in the urban open spaces.