Biomimicry-Based Strategies for Urban Heat Island Mitigation: A Numerical Case Study under Tropical Climate

Abstract

In recent years, demographic growth has caused cities to expand their urban areas, increasing the risk of overheating, creating insurmountable microclimatic conditions within the urban area, which is why studies have been carried out on the urban heat island effect (UHI) and its mitigation. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the cooling potential in the application of strategies based on biomimicry for the microclimate in a historical heritage city of Panama. For this, three case studies (base case, case 1, and case 2) of outdoor thermal comfort were evaluated, in which the Envi-met software was used to emulate and evaluate the thermal performance of these strategies during March (highest temperature month) and October (rainier month). The strategies used were extracted from the contrast of zebra skin, human skin, evaporative cooling, and ant skin. The results showed a reduction of 2.8 °C in the air temperature at 11:00, the radiant temperature decreased by 2.2 °C, and the PET index managed to reduce the thermal comfort indicator among its categories. The importance of thinking based on biomimicry in sustainable strategies is concluded; although significant changes were obtained, high risks of discomfort persist due to the layout and proximity of the building.

A Review of How Building Mitigates the Urban Heat Island in Indonesia and Tropical Cities

“…Another project in Casco Antiguo, Panama City was to conceptualize and evaluate heat mitigation strategies using biomimetic strategies on an urban scale [34]. Using the problem-based approach, biomimicry-based strategies were developed [34].…”

“…Another project in Casco Antiguo, Panama City was to conceptualize and evaluate heat mitigation strategies using biomimetic strategies on an urban scale [34]. Using the problem-based approach, biomimicry-based strategies were developed [34]. A biomimetic approach is important since nature often adapts and solves problems passively and without causing harm to itself.…”

“…A biomimetic approach is important since nature often adapts and solves problems passively and without causing harm to itself. As a result of its methodology, it can be used across many different application areas (architecture, engineering, biology) to provide energy-efficient and sustainable designs [34].…”

“…A case study of a historic urban development near the coast of Panama with 66,896 m 2 of land was evaluated using dynamic simulations during the critical summer month (March) and the critical rain month (October) using ENVI-met software [34]. A combination of zebra skin, human skin, evaporative cooling, and ant skin was used for the strategies [34].…”

“…A case study of a historic urban development near the coast of Panama with 66,896 m 2 of land was evaluated using dynamic simulations during the critical summer month (March) and the critical rain month (October) using ENVI-met software [34]. A combination of zebra skin, human skin, evaporative cooling, and ant skin was used for the strategies [34]. Furthermore, ENVI-met is applicable to micro-scale interventions such as cool roofs, pavements, and vegetation and is used to examine the impact on air temperature when those interventions are applied at the canopy level [1].…”