Research period: 2012-2016
Team: Yun Hye Hwang, Qin Jie Geraldine Lum, and Yeow Kwang Derek Chan, L.X.C Lim, and Y.C. Tan (NUS), Yuin-mae Ng (Nparks)
As Singapore is near the equator, heat is a concern, especially given the increasing yearly average temperatures and significant urban heat island effects. National greening policies propose increasing the number of parks; this may indirectly benefit thermal conditions at a macro level, but there has been little consideration of the thermal environment within these spaces. The study examined micro-scale thermal conditions within 10 urban parks at the hottest period of the year, assessing operative temperature variables; explored characteristics and planting configurations of trees achieving optimal shade conditions based on the thermal performance of a range of size of tree canopies and tree shade densities. The findings suggest the need for a quantitative study of design factors to guide the future planning and design of climatically adapted parks in the tropics.
The related articles are;
- Hwang Y.H., Lum Q.J.G., Lim L.X.C., 2017, Cooling with green infrastructures: the influence of trees on thermal conditions in tropical urban parks. Designing Cooler Cities. Palgrave Series in Asia and Pacific Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Springer, 69-83
- Hwang, Y.H, Lum, Q.J., Chuan, Y.K., 2015, Micro-scale thermal performance of tropical urban parks in Singapore, Journal of Building and Environment, Vol. 94, part 2, 467-476
- Hwang, Y.H., Tan, Y.C., 2013, A Study on greenery factors for cooler park connectors in Singapore, The International Journal of the Constructed Environment, Vol. 3- 1, 1-10