Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions

<p dir="ltr">Cities have become epicenters of heat stress and thermal discomfort due to rapid urbanization and the escalating impacts of global warming. Cities in hot arid climates endure prolonged, extremely hot, dry summers exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. Therefore, th...

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Main Author: Omer Abedrabboh (17346847) (author)
Other Authors: Christos Fountoukis (4722963) (author), Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268) (author), M. Rami Alfarra (1343493) (author)
Published: 2025
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author Omer Abedrabboh (17346847)
author2 Christos Fountoukis (4722963)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
M. Rami Alfarra (1343493)
author2_role author
author
author
author_facet Omer Abedrabboh (17346847)
Christos Fountoukis (4722963)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
M. Rami Alfarra (1343493)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Omer Abedrabboh (17346847)
Christos Fountoukis (4722963)
Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)
M. Rami Alfarra (1343493)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-09-12T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Simulating_microclimate_adaptation_Evaluating_heat_mitigation_strategies_for_Doha_Qatar_under_current_and_future_climate_conditions/30135370
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Built environment and design
Urban and regional planning
Engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Climate change
ENVI-met
Hot arid
Green infrastructure
Cool material
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">Cities have become epicenters of heat stress and thermal discomfort due to rapid urbanization and the escalating impacts of global warming. Cities in hot arid climates endure prolonged, extremely hot, dry summers exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. Therefore, this research work designs, models, and evaluates thirteen heat mitigation scenarios for a compact midrise area in the hot arid city of Doha, Qatar, using ENVI-met and OpenStudio simulations. The scenarios are based on four heat mitigation strategies: (1) Green infrastructure, including extensive and intensive green roofs and facades, increased tree canopy cover, and introduction of an urban park, (2) cool and super cool materials for roofs, facades, and pavements, (3) urban morphology modifications, increasing building heights, and (4) shading structures. Given the limitations of the individual strategies, a combined heat mitigation strategy was developed, integrating the best-performing scenarios: Urban Morphology 35 m, Intensive Green Roofs and Facades, Trees Addition, and Urban Park. This strategy resulted in consistent and substantial cooling benefits, lowering maximum T<sub>a</sub>, MRT, and PET by up to 4.4 °C, 26.9 °C, and 8.7 °C, respectively, and shortening the extreme heat stress period by two hours (from 7 am–5 pm (10 h) to 8 am–4 pm (8 h)) for the simulated midsummer day. Moreover, the combined strategy proved effective under high-emissions climate change scenario (A2) for 2041–2069 (2050) and 2070–2099 (2080), improving the outdoor thermal environment and mitigating the intensified heat stress levels. Furthermore, it considerably reduced building’s cooling energy consumption, lowering demand by over 24 %.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Sustainable Cities and Society<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777</a></p>
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id Manara2_8c4c55dd35287fef46c0b185b3ce98f7
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30135370
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spelling Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditionsOmer Abedrabboh (17346847)Christos Fountoukis (4722963)Tareq Al-Ansari (9872268)M. Rami Alfarra (1343493)Built environment and designUrban and regional planningEngineeringEnvironmental engineeringEnvironmental sciencesClimate change impacts and adaptationClimate changeENVI-metHot aridGreen infrastructureCool material<p dir="ltr">Cities have become epicenters of heat stress and thermal discomfort due to rapid urbanization and the escalating impacts of global warming. Cities in hot arid climates endure prolonged, extremely hot, dry summers exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. Therefore, this research work designs, models, and evaluates thirteen heat mitigation scenarios for a compact midrise area in the hot arid city of Doha, Qatar, using ENVI-met and OpenStudio simulations. The scenarios are based on four heat mitigation strategies: (1) Green infrastructure, including extensive and intensive green roofs and facades, increased tree canopy cover, and introduction of an urban park, (2) cool and super cool materials for roofs, facades, and pavements, (3) urban morphology modifications, increasing building heights, and (4) shading structures. Given the limitations of the individual strategies, a combined heat mitigation strategy was developed, integrating the best-performing scenarios: Urban Morphology 35 m, Intensive Green Roofs and Facades, Trees Addition, and Urban Park. This strategy resulted in consistent and substantial cooling benefits, lowering maximum T<sub>a</sub>, MRT, and PET by up to 4.4 °C, 26.9 °C, and 8.7 °C, respectively, and shortening the extreme heat stress period by two hours (from 7 am–5 pm (10 h) to 8 am–4 pm (8 h)) for the simulated midsummer day. Moreover, the combined strategy proved effective under high-emissions climate change scenario (A2) for 2041–2069 (2050) and 2070–2099 (2080), improving the outdoor thermal environment and mitigating the intensified heat stress levels. Furthermore, it considerably reduced building’s cooling energy consumption, lowering demand by over 24 %.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Sustainable Cities and Society<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777</a></p>2025-09-12T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.scs.2025.106777https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Simulating_microclimate_adaptation_Evaluating_heat_mitigation_strategies_for_Doha_Qatar_under_current_and_future_climate_conditions/30135370CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/301353702025-09-12T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
Omer Abedrabboh (17346847)
Built environment and design
Urban and regional planning
Engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Climate change
ENVI-met
Hot arid
Green infrastructure
Cool material
status_str publishedVersion
title Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
title_full Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
title_fullStr Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
title_full_unstemmed Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
title_short Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
title_sort Simulating microclimate adaptation: Evaluating heat mitigation strategies for Doha, Qatar, under current and future climate conditions
topic Built environment and design
Urban and regional planning
Engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Climate change
ENVI-met
Hot arid
Green infrastructure
Cool material