Evaluation of the Use of Water Elements and Vegetation in Public Spaces to Achieve Thermal Comfort in Hot Arid Regions | ||||
| Journal of Urban Research | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 29 August 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jur.2025.393830.1194 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Ahmed Fathy Draz   ; Abbas Mohamed Al-Zaafarany; Hossam Ibrahim Tahoon
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| Urban Design, Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| This study aims to evaluate the impact of using water elements in residential spaces on improving thermal comfort in hot arid regions. The study relies on microclimate simulation using the ENVI-met software to analyze the effects of water features, such as artificial lakes and fountains, on ambient temperature and relative humidity. October City was selected as a case study model, where the simulation was conducted during an extremely hot summer day to determine the cooling effect of these elements. The results showed that the addition of water elements significantly contributes to reducing ambient temperatures and enhancing thermal comfort levels, especially during peak heat hours. The study recommends implementing design strategies that integrate water elements into hot residential areas to achieve sustainable improvements in thermal conditions. Despite the positive results, the study advises conducting further research to investigate the long-term effects of water elements and to test different scenarios throughout the year. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Thermal Comfort; Water Elements; Urban Spaces; Hot Arid Regions; ENVI-met | ||||
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