Enhancing the thermal comfort on urban level in a desert area: Case study of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The urbanisation of deserts in Dubai is one way in which this city can expand and explore its full potential. In this piece of research, a case study of the Dubai International Academic City was used as a basis from which to study the importance of planning and orientation of projects in open, unpopulated land. It demonstrates the various alternatives for project orientation relative to the sun and wind, its effects on temperature and wind readings and consequently on outdoor thermal comfort levels. ENVI-met was used to simulate various scenarios generated from the existing base case in both summer and winter. The orientation which best promoted and allowed for higher wind flow through the project was found to record the best outdoor predicted mean vote levels, approaching a neutral state. The findings of this research may be used for setting up regulations regarding the planning of desert areas in Dubai on the basis of early assessment of designs. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.