SUSTAINABLE URBANISM IN GREATER CAIRO

Enhancing Microclimate of Urban Canyons in Hot-Dry Climates Through Simulation-Guided Artificial Shading

In hot-dry climates, outdoor spaces may suffer from periods of unbearable hot weather, leading people to escape the heat by choosing indoor air-conditioned spaces when possible, which increases pollution, and limits the potential of the public open spaces. Direct solar radiation is one of the main factors affecting thermal comfort in the outdoor environment and can be controlled through shading. Recently, studies have increased on the use of software simulation tools in the enhancement and optimization of the outdoor thermal environment. Regwan’s research employs the Ladybug-tools, which can perform thousands of simulations in a matter of few minutes with fair accuracy. Regwan specifically studies a central district within the Greater Cairo, called the ‘Mohandessin’. The main aim is to provide guidelines on enhancing thermal comfort through optimized and feasible shading applications; and potentially encouraging the pedestrianization of the urban canyons where open spaces are limited.

REGWAN ELREFAI PhD Student

rhme2@kent.ac.uk

Software Simulation can be used in the outdoor shading application to identify the required shade locations and periods, and optimize the shape, material and structure of shade.

In Cairo, simulation over the summer shows that placing shading louvers at an angle has a much bigger impact on the reduction of direct solar exposure in a North-South oriented urban canyon than on an East-West one.

Regwan graduated from Cairo University credit-hour program “Architecture and Engineering Technology” in 2013, and was immediately offered a job as a Teaching Assistant in the Architectural Department at the same University. Besides being a teaching assistant, Regwan has continued her studies for the Master of Science degree, which she completed by the year 2018, and was promoted to an Assistant Lecturer. Regwan has started her PhD at the University of Kent in September 2021, and she received a full mission scholarship from her Country, Egypt, towards obtaining her degree.

SUPERVISORY TEAM

Prof. Marialena

Nikolopoulou

Prof. Henrik

Schoenefeldt