The microclimatic impacts of urban spaces on the behaviour of pandemics between propagation and containment: Case study historic Cairo

• Published in: Urban climate Vol. 36; p. 100773
• Main Author: Elsayed, Doaa Salaheldin Ismail
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Computer fluid dynamics; Microclimatic performance; Pandemic mitigation plans; Quantitative assessment framework; Solar radiation analysis; Urban space; Urban space; Quantitative assessment framework; Solar radiation analysis; Computer fluid dynamics; Microclimatic performance; Pandemic mitigation plans
• ISSN: 2212-0955; 2212-0955
• DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2021.100773

Although previous researches proved that frequent visits to urban spaces enhance the physical and mental health of people, most governments adopted lockdown policies after the outbreak of COVID-19. This decision has negatively impacted the wellbeing of communities and the livability of urban spaces. In this context the research questions how far the microclimatic conditions of urban space would influence its performance during respiratory pandemics? The study investigated this question through a dense literature survey including 47 scientific journal articles and governmental reports. The outputs were synthesized through a quantitative assessment framework. It detected the spatio-environmental parameters influencing the behaviour of respiratory pandemics in urban settings. To validate the framework's outputs, the research applied case study sampling for 3 urban spaces in historic Cairo. It generated digital simulations and computations addressing solar radiation, natural ventilation, air temperature, and humidity, besides space dimension and number of users. The results illustrated the areas of adequate and poor microclimatic performance during pandemics. They are demonstrated through numerical tables, digital simulations, and graphs. Eventually, a concluding assessment framework selected the optimum urban space performance to be engaged in the public life of historic Cairo during lockdown periods. •Urban spaces enhance people’s physiological and mental health during pandemics.•Sun exposure and natural ventilation affect pandemic behaviour.•Detecting areas of optimum urban microclimatic performance during pandemics.•Prioritising the suitability of urban spaces for pandemic mitigation plans.•Offering insight for managing/selecting functional urban spaces during pandemics.