Vienna’s 7th district of Neubau is one of the hottest in the city. The district administration and the urban planning authority thus instructed the firm DnD Landschaftsplanung ZT KG to draw up a master plan for Neubau for adaptation to climate change. As a well-proven project partner, Weatherpark was commissioned in this context to perform a sample analysis of summertime comfort at Kirchengasse. The current situation and three possible organisational variants were analysed here. The physiological equivalent temperature, PET* for short, was used as the index.
The simulation highlighted the impact of different greening schemes on heat development. It showed that the most effective and extensive solution was the so-called radical option (with 41 trees instead of the current total of 0) and with 857 m2 planting beds (instead of the current 0). This option for example allows the perceived temperature to be reduced locally by as much as 15°C. In daytime heat levels become far lower thanks to the shade offered by the trees. The evaporative cooling effect of the trees and the unsealed areas of land also ensure people feel cooler. Site-adapted/targeted coordination of greening measures with the surrounding buildings (cast shadows) make it possible to create a cool oasis amid the hot city.
Services of Weatherpark
Analysis of summertime comfort based on perceived temperature (PET)
Client
City of Vienna – district administration of Vienna-Neubau
Press release
https://www.wien.gv.at/presse/2020/04/23/hebein-reiter-knapp-100-neue-baeume-fuer-neubau
* PET (physiological equivalent temperature): the temperature perceived by the human body. If specific threshold values are exceeded, people then start to suffer stress from extremes of temperature through influencing factors such as air temperature, sunlight, humidity and wind.