Qualitative Analysis of the Cooling Potential of the Streetside Vegetation of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
Alisha Chowdhury *
Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
Shankha Pratim Bhattacharya
Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The urban heat island (UHI) effect is a major challenge in contemporary urban planning. The large number of paved surfaces, anthropogenic activities and combustion of fossil fuels are the major contributors of this phenomenon. Urban green spaces are known to mitigate the UHI. Since streets constitute a major portion of the urban areas, greening the streets can help reduce heat stress significantly. To study the impact of orientation and density of the street side vegetation on their cooling potential in Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
A suitable site, meeting the orientation and the density of vegetation criteria, was chosen for collecting the primary data through an instrument survey. Ambient temperature, surface temperature and solar radiation data was collected from the thirteen cross-sections marked across the site. As part of the preliminary data processing, relative variations of ambient temperature, surface temperature and the solar radiation attenuation was calculated. The values pertaining to these three secondary parameters were used to form matrices corresponding to each of the trees of each of the cross-sections. These matrices were then compared with their corresponding matrices to estimate which side exhibited a higher cooling potential. Besides, a colour-coded matrix was also generated from the calculated shade index to evaluate the amount of incident solar radiation blocked by each of these trees.
This study corroborates the previous findings that the shade providing trees can alter the microclimate of the area. Besides, it was also observed that the Northern pavements of the east-west oriented streets are cooler than the Southern pavement. Furthermore, it was also noticed that if the crown of the tree is present at a greater height from the ground, then lower solar angle results in less blockage of the incident solar radiation. Also, it was evident that a higher density of tall, shade providing trees, maximally block incident solar radiation on a street. This study can help in understanding the pattern of cooling potential of the street side vegetation in a warm and humid climatic zone like Kharagpur so that the plantation can be planned judiciously.
Keywords: Qualitative matrix analysis, shade index, urban heat island, colour-coded matrix, cooling potential
How to Cite
References
Georges K, Kome Roger K, Enang, Fritzgerald K. Bine. Climate change, soil fertility management and the nexus: A knowledge and opinions study in Western Cameroon. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. 2017;13(4):1-16.
DOI: 10.9734/JSRR/2017/31730
Robert D Brown. Ameliorating the effects of climate change: Modifying microclimates through design. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2011;100(4):372-374.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.01.010
Briony A, Norton, Andrew M Coutts, Stephen J, Livesley, Richard J, Harris, Annie M, Hunter, Nicholas SG. Williams. Planning for cooler cities: A framework to prioritise green infrastructure to mitigate high temperatures in urban landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2015;134:127-138. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.10.018
Ezeabasili ACC, Iloghalu IE, Okoro BU, Manafa IF. Sustainable urban forestry in Nigerian built environments. Jouranl of Scientific Research and Reports. 2015; 5(7):524-531.
DOI: 10.9734/JSRR/2015/14613
Mahyar Masoudi, Puay Yok Tan, Soo Chin Liew. Multi-city comparison of the relationships between spatial pattern and cooling effect of urban green spaces in four major Asian cities. Ecological Indicators. 2019;98:200-213.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.09.058
Yujia Zhang, Jordan P Smith, Daoqin Tong BL. Turner II. Optimizing the co-benefits of food desert and urban heat mitigation through community garden planning. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2022;226: 104488.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104488.
Shashua-Bar L, Hoffman ME. Vegetation as a climatic component in the design of an urban street: An empirical model for predicting the cooling effect of urban green areas with trees. Energy and Buildings. 1999;31(2000):221-235.
J.E.Zawadzka, J.A. Harris, R. Corstanje. Assessment of heat mitigation capacity of urban greenspaces with the use of InVEST urban cooling model, verified with day-time land surface temperature data. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2021;214:104163. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104163
Robert D. Brown, Jennifer Vanos, Natasha Kenny, Sanda Lenzholzer. Designing urban parks that ameliorate the effects of climate change. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2015;138:118-131.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.006
Zhifeng Wu, Liding Chen. Optimizing the spatial arrangement of trees in residential neighborhoods for better cooling effects: Integrating modeling with in-situ measurements. Landscape and Urban Planning.2017;167:463-472. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.07.015
Arpit Shah, Amit Garg, Vimal Mishra. Quantifying the local cooling effects of urban green spaces: Evidence from Bengaluru, India. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2021;209:104043.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104043
Carlos Bartesaghi-Koc, Paul Osmund, Alan Peters. Quantifying the seasonal cooling capacity of ‘green infrastructure types’ (GITs): An approach to assess and mitigate surface urban heat island in Sydney, Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2020;203:103893. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103893
Mohd Fairuz Shahidan, Phillip J Jones, Julie Gwilliam, Elias Salleh. An evaluation of outdoor and building environment cooling achieved through combination modification of trees with ground materials. Building and Environment. 2012;58:245-257. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.07.012
Emmanuel R, Loconsole A. Green infrastructure as an adaptation approach to tackling urban overheating in the Glasgow Clyde Valley Region, UK. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2015;138:71-86.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.012
Kenichi Narita, Hirofumi Sugawara, Tsuyoshi Honjo. Effects of roadside trees on the thermal environment within a street canyon. Geographical Reports of Tokyo Metropolitan University. 2008;43(2008): 41-48.
Wiebke Klemm, Bert G. Heusinkveld, Sanda Lenzholzer, Bert van Hove. Street greenery and its physical and psychological impact on thermal comfort. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2015;138: 87-98.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.009
Sten Gillner, Juliane Vogt, Andreas Tharang, Sebastian Dettmann, Andreas Roloff. Role of street trees in mitigating effects of heat and drought at highly sealed urban sites. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2015;143:33-42.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.06.005
Zhi-Hua Wang, Xiaoxi Zhao, Jiachuan Yang, Jiyun Song. Cooling and energy saving potentials of shade trees and urban lawns in a desert city. Applied Energy. 2016;161:437-444.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.047.
Ojeh VN, Philip-Humshie A, Garba HA, Naabil E, Obiano EC, Boyitie OP. et al. The environmental benefits of trees in a changing climate: A Nigerian experience. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. 2020;26(6):59-75.
DOI: 10.9734/JSRR/2020/v26i630272
James Gyasi-Addo and Amar Bennadji. A procedure for assessing UHI intensity in the central business district of Accra. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. 2020;26(5):42-61.
DOI: 10.9734/JSRR/2020/v26i530259
Nyame-Tawiah D, Attuah L, Koranteng C. Determination of the effect of green roofs on indoor temperature by the use of simulation in a tropical landscape. Journal of Scientific Research & Reports. 2020; 26(4):12-28.
DOI: 10.9734/JSRR/2020/v26i430244
Ruzana Sansui, Denise Johnstone, Peter May, Stephen J Livesley. Street orientation and side of the street greatly influence the microclimatic benefits street trees can provide in summer. Journal of Environmental Quality. 2016;45(1):167-174.
DOI: 10.2134/jeq2015.01.0039
Kuo-Tsang Huang, Yi-Jhen Li. Impact of street canyon typology on building’s peak cooling energy demand: A parametric analysis using orthogonal experiment. Energy and Buildings. 2017;154:448-464.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.08.054.
Andrew Coutts, Emma C White, Nigel Tapper, Jason Beringer, Stephen J Livesley. Temperature and human thermal comfort effects of street trees across three contrasting street canyon environments. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. 2015.
DOI: 10.1007/s00704-015-1409-y
Limor Shashua-Bar, Milo E. Hoffman. Geometry and orientation aspects in passive cooling of canyon streets with trees. Energy and Buildings.2003;35(1):61-68.
DOI: 10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00080-4
Edward Ng, Liang Chen, Yingna Wang, Chao Yuan. A study on the cooling effects of greening in a high-density city: An experience from Hong Kong. Building and Environment. 2012;47:256-271.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.07.014
Loyde Vieira de Abreu-Harbich, Lucila C Labaki, Andreas Matzarakis. Different trees and configuration as microclimate control strategy in tropics. 8th International Conference on Urban Climates. 2012.
Cynthia Skelhorn, Sarah Lindley, Geoff Levermore. The impact of vegetation types on air and surface temperatures in a temperate city: A fine scale assessment in Manchester, UK. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2014;121:129-140. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.09.012
Dandou A, Papangelis G, Kontos T, Santamouris M, Tombrou M. On the cooling potential of urban heating mitigation technologies in a coastal temperate city. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2021;212:104106.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104106
Loyde Vieira de Abreu-Harbich, Lucila Chebel Labaki, Andreas Matzarakis. Effect of tree planting design and tree species on human thermal comfort in the tropics. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2015;138: 99-109.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.008
Argiro Dimoudi, Marialena Nikolopoulou. Vegetation in the urban environment: microclimatic analysis and benefits. Energy and Buildings. 2003;35(1):69-76. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00081-6
Gudina Legese Feyisa, Klaus Dons, Henrik Meilby. Efficiency of parks in mitigating urban heat island effect: An example from Addis Ababa. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2014;123:87-95.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.12.008
Hyunjung Lee, Helmut Mayer, Liang Chen. Contribution of trees and grasslands to the mitigation of human heat stress in a residential district of Freiburg, Southwest Germany. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2016;148:37-50.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.12.004
Or Aleksandrowicz and David Pearlmutter. The significance of shade provision in reducing street-level summer heat stress in a hot Mediterranean climate. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2023;229:104588. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104588
Rundong Feng, Fuyuan Wang, Shenghe Liu, Wei Qi, Yicai Zhao, Yifan Wang. How urban ecological land affects resident heat exposure: Evidence from the mega-urban agglomeration in China. Landscape and Urban Planning.2023;231:104643. Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104643
Khaled Hashad, Bo Yang, John Gallagher, Richard Baldauf, Parikshit Deshmukh, K. Max Zhang. Impact of roadside conifers vegetation growth on air pollution mitigation. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2023;229:104594.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104594.
carolina lotufo bueno-bartholomei, lucila c labaki. how much does the change of species of trees affect their solar radiation attenuation. International Conference on Urban Climate. 2003:267-270.