Mitigating Heat Stress for Pedestrians in Residential Neighborhoods: A Simulation-Based Approach to Enhance Outdoor Thermal Comfort

Saudi Arabia’s ambition to improve quality of life is paving its way, and this study aligns with that vision, adopting an experimental approach to explore urban solutions to enhance outdoor thermal comfort for pedestrians in neighborhoods within Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Given the city’s hot and arid climate, outdoor spaces are often subject to extreme thermal conditions that reduce the quality of life for residents. To address this issue, the study utilizes Ladybug in Grasshopper, a tool designed for modeling the microclimate and assessing the impact of urban design strategies on outdoor thermal comfort. A base model representing the current urban fabric of selected neighborhoods is developed, and then multiple alternatives of urban morphology (sidewalk, setbacks, fence, and vegetation) are evaluated for their effectiveness in mitigating heat stress and improving outdoor thermal conditions. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into how urban planning and design interventions can be tailored to the unique climatic challenges of Riyadh, with potential applications for enhancing the sustainability, livability, and overall quality of life of the city’s neighborhoods.