Ahmad Hami, Suhardi Maulan, Manohar Mariapan, Mohammad Malekizadeh,
Volume 24, Issue 1 (6-2014)
Abstract
Abstract Urban parks are important public multifunctional space used for a wide range of activities. The usage levels of parks depend on the spatial characteristics of the spaces, where its forms and occupancies are referred as the usage-spatial relationship. Natural elements spatial complexity and park usability is of interest in this study. A photo - questionnaire was conducted among 296 of park users in Tabriz, Iran to gauge the relationship between park usability dimensions and natural elements complexity levels. The result revealed three dimensions for park usability namely social activities, passive nature activities, and nature appreciation where passive nature activities received the highest preference. The results from SEM models addressed non-significant relationship between park usability and high complexity level of natural elements meanwhile there was a significant positive relationship between social activities and moderate complexity of natural elements. A negative significant relationship of nature appreciation and positive relationship of social activities with low complex natural elements were observed. Landscape designers should avoid suggesting crowded planting areas (high complexity), which obstruct visibility in urban park and probably reduce perceived safety. It seems that water features show positive effect on people’s desire to do activities in urban park. Spatial configuration of vegetation contributed in park usability level and a safe feeling in urban park which might be necessary for future researches.
Sajjad Osan, Ahmad Hami, Manohar Mariapan,
Volume 33, Issue 2 (4-2023)
Abstract
Nowadays, global climate change makes urban planners and designers pay more attention to thermal islands to enhance thermal comfort conditions in cities. The present study aims to investigate the effects of evergreen and deciduous tree placement patterns, tree canopy height, and tree canopy diameter on the enhancement of ambient temperature and improvement of thermal comfort conditions. The ENVI-met model was used to replicate the research region and site. It was validated by comparing the outputs of the model with the values from field measurements. Finally, the recommended scenarios were simulated in the model to discover those scenarios with better performance in enhancing outdoor thermal comfort and temperature on days with low temperatures. At low-temperature situations, planting evergreen trees irregularly had a stronger impact on the improvement of thermal comfort (PMV) compared to deciduous trees. Furthermore, in all models, Populus nigra and Platanus showed the worst performance in boosting ambient temperature. Landscape designers and urban planners might use the findings to improve urban green space, construct sustainable cities, and enhance air temperature.
