Identification and Diagnosis of Wind Health-Vulnerable Spaces in High-Rise Residential Areas of Xi’an

As urbanization accelerates, high-rise residential areas (HRRAs) have become a dominant urban housing typology. However, their complex building layouts significantly alter local wind environments, potentially impacting residents’ health. While existing studies mainly focus on macro-scale wind analysis, there is limited exploration of the micro-environmental interactions between wind conditions and human activities. This study proposes the concept of Wind Health-Vulnerable Space (WHVS) and addresses the following scientific question: How do building layouts affect local wind fields and influence pollutant accumulation and health risks, particularly for air pollutants like PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less), which is closely associated with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes? To investigate this, a multidimensional framework integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with point-of-interest (POI) data was developed to identify and diagnose these spaces. Case studies of two typical HRRAs in Xi’an, China, reveal two types of WHVSs: (1) localized calm zones between buildings (wind speed < 0.5 m/s, pressure −0.5 to 3 Pa), where PM2.5 concentrations are 25–30% higher than surrounding areas; and (2) large-scale weak wind areas in enclosed layouts (wind speed < 0.5 m/s, pressure −1 to −2 Pa), with PM2.5 concentrations increased by 28–35%. The results highlight a dual mechanism in the formation of vulnerable spaces: wind field disturbances caused by building layout and the overlay effect of human activity distribution. This framework offers new insights and scientific support for health-oriented urban planning and building layout optimization.