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Block morphology refers to critical parameters influencing building energy performance on the block scale. However, analysis of the combined effect of block morphological parameters on building energy consumption with real blocks is lacking. In this paper, the aim is to evaluate the combined effect of office block morphology on building energy consumption in the context of the Hot-summer and Cold-winter zone in China. First, a workflow for the energy assessment of office buildings with the coupled block morphology on the block scale was proposed with evaluation tools. Seventy office blocks in Wuhan were taken as examples and then classified based on building layout typology and building height. Afterwards, the morphological parameters and building energy use intensity (EUI) for different blocks were calculated. Then, the combined effect of block morphology on the buildings' energy consumption was evaluated and the model on predicting the building energy consumption of office blocks was proposed. Finally, based on the results, low-energy design strategies were projected for office blocks. The results illustrated that the effect of block morphology on building cooling, heating, and lighting is EUI 28.83%, 28.56%, and 23.23%, respectively. Building shape factor (BSF), floor area ratio (FAR), average building height of block (BH), and average building depth of block (BD) are effective block morphological parameters. The key morphological parameters which combined affect the building energy consumption of office blocks are BSF and FAR; BSF has 1.24 times the effect on building energy consumption than FAR. The workflow built in this paper can be applied to other cities around the world for promoting sustainable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China's typical high-density cities, in order to meet the residential needs, a Chinese characteristic and typical high-rise residence with multiple flats sharing one staircase has been created. Due to the Chinese cooking methods, such as frying and stir-frying, the middle flats' kitchens of these high-rise residences are easily exposed to cooking pollutants, which endanger people's health. As the outdoor transition space directly adjacent to the kitchens of the middle flats, the inner-courtyards in high-rise residences make the cooking pollutants easier to be diffused. Therefore, the inner-courtyard form has a significant impact on the ventilation and diffusion of cooking pollutants. In this study, with the method of measurement and CFD simulation, the relationship between cooking pollutants diffusion in the kitchens of the middle flats and the flow field in inner-courtyards was analyzed, and the impact of different inner-courtyard forms on cooking pollutants diffusion distribution in high-rise residential under natural ventilation was discussed. The results show that different inner-courtyard forms have different effects on the diffusion of cooking pollutants: the enclosed courtyards will greatly increase the cross-contamination between the kitchen and the adjacent space; increasing the openness of the courtyard will not enhance the diffusion level of pollutants, but has a negative effect; compared with centralized courtyards, symmetrical courtyards have a better echo with the kitchen in the layout, which is more conducive to the diffusion of cooking pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, it has been documented that old age and underlying illnesses are associated with poor prognosis among COVID-19 patients. However, it is unknown whether sarcopenia, a common geriatric syndrome, is associated with poor prognosis among older COVID-19 patients. The aim of our prospective cohort study is to investigate the association between sarcopenia risk and severe disease among COVID-19 patients aged ≥60 years.Method: A prospective cohort study of 114 hospitalized older patients (≥60 years) with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia between 7 February, 2020 and 6 April, 2020. Epidemiological, socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data on admission and outcome data were extracted from electronic medical records. All patients were assessed for sarcopenia on admission using the SARC-F scale and the outcome was the development of the severe disease within 60 days. We used the Cox proportional hazards model to identify the association between sarcopenia and progression of disease defined as severe cases in a total of 2908 person-days.Result: Of 114 patients (mean age 69.52 ± 7.25 years, 50% woman), 38 (33%) had a high risk of sarcopenia while 76 (67%) did not. We found that 43 (38%) patients progressed to severe cases. COVID-19 patients with higher risk sarcopenia were more likely to develop severe disease than those without (68% versus 22%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, higher risk sarcopenia was associated with a higher hazard of severe condition [hazard ratio = 2.87 (95% CI, 1.33-6.16)].Conclusion: We found that COVID-19 patients with higher sarcopenia risk were more likely to develop severe condition. A clinician-friendly assessment of sarcopenia could help in early warning of older patients at high-risk with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The solar potential in different residential blocks is simulated. • The influences of block morphological parameters on solar potential are varified. • Four parameters that impact on the block solar potential more than 70% are verified. • The facade PV capacity in high-rise and hybrid residential blocks is more than 66%. • The average PV installation rate of roof, south and west facade is 96%, 32% and 39%. Block-scale application of photovoltaic technology in city is becoming a viable solution for renewable energy utilization. Rapid urbanization process has made urban buildings have huge development potential for solar energy in China, especially in residential areas that occupy large parts of the city. However, the residential blocks in China show differences in the morphological layout and parameters, which means they have diverse potential for solar energy development. This paper studies the effect of quantified morphological parameters on solar potential for residential blocks in Wuhan, China. The distribution characteristics of solar potential in different block environments are discussed. Various strategies are evaluated in terms of the installation position and height of PV modules. The results showed that floor area ratio, building density, average building height and building interval have significant impact on solar potential for residential block, and their correlation can reach 75%, 71%, 78% and 72% respectively. The average PV installation ratio of roof, south facade and west facade can reach 96%, 32% and 39% respectively. The results of this paper not only provide a reference to the block-scale application of PV technology in urban environment, but also stimulate the implementation of photovoltaic policies on various residential blocks in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is a similarity in PV potential within similar urban block types in the same types. • A significant difference exists between the three different types of urban blocks in regards to PV potential. • The highest PV potential is exhibited by commercial blocks, followed by residential and then industrial blocks. • Different block types exhibit different proportions of PV potential in terms of rooftops and facades due to variation in urban form. Due to the ever increasing energy demand, PV utilisation in the urban scale has become an attractive solution. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effect of urban block type on solar potential. There exists a requirement to analyse solar potential in the real urban context of Wuhan based on block function and type. Therefore, this paper studies a real case in Wuhan's urban context by selecting 15 cases of real urban industrial, commercial and residential blocks. The PV output was calculated for roofs and façades respectively. The results obtained showed obvious differences between the three type of blocks, where commercial blocks received the most total solar irradiation, followed by residential blocks, and then industrial blocks. Similarly, the distribution of solar irradiation on roofs and façades for each block was vividly different based on the block type, owing to differences in building forms based on block function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Established an analytic workflow for energy use and solar potential at block-scale. • Evaluated the impact of urban morphology on energy use and solar potential. • H-shaped block saved 12.25% EUI with the highest energy-saving potential. • Tower block reduced energy use by 72.05% after the deployment of PV panels. • Proposed multiple regression models for predicting energy performance by morphology. Urban morphology is a major factor affecting building energy consumption and solar potential in the urban block. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of urban morphology on both building energy consumption and solar energy generation potential for university dormitory blocks in Wuhan. This paper proposed a classification method for dormitory blocks, calculated the building energy consumption and solar energy generation potential of 55 blocks, and analyzed the correlation between urban morphology and three energy performance indicators: Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Solar Energy Generation Intensity (SEGI) and Net Energy Use Intensity (NEUI). Multiple regression models were used to predict energy performance by urban morphological parameters. The results indicate that different block types could lead to up to 12.25% difference in EUI, and 35.85% significant difference in building NEUI with the deployment of photovoltaic (PV) panels. The EUI is mainly affected by three morphological parameters, which are Average length of block, Shape factor and Building density; while the SEGI and NEUI are mainly affected by Average height of block, Shape factor and Sky view factor. This study could serve as guidelines for planners and policymakers in campus planning and architectural design to improve building energy conservation at block-scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new research framework by combining MSP and LM was provided. • The spatially heterogeneous nature of MSP and PM 2.5 was analysed. • Five MSPs had significant nonlinear effects on PM 2.5. • There were 44 LMs significantly correlated with PM 2.5. • The question of how to optimise MSP was answered. Urban green space (UGS) can effectively reduce particulate pollution. However, the spatially heterogeneous nature of PM 2.5 and the impact of UGS morphological spatial patterns (MSPs) on PM 2.5 remain largely unknown, as most related studies have focused solely on global spatial performance. This study analyses the local relationships between MSPs and PM 2.5 using geographically weighted regression (GWR). It provides a novel framework for systematic analysis by regarding landscape metrics (LMs) as indexes of MSPs (i.e., a MSP-LM framework). Compared with ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, GWR significantly improves the model's R2 (OLS: 0.002–0.233, GWR: 0.92–0.97) and yields a higher local R2 outside the second ring road. The local coefficients of perforation, core, and edge are significantly negative over 60% of the study area, while the coefficients of islet and branch are significantly positive over 66% of the area. In terms of the LMs of MSPs, improving the LMs of edges and cores can significantly reduce PM 2.5. Increasing edge density has the best performance. Our study not only provides a basis for reducing PM 2.5 but also contributes a common research method for exploring related environmental issues such as SO 2 to promote sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introduces an evaluation method of solar energy potential for industrial block. • Single-storey industrial blocks have the largest total solar potential. • Density has a significant impact on solar potential for industrial blocks. • Roof has the highest effective installation rate, then South and West facade. Industrial blocks are an important part of the city which is very suitable for PV application because of its large-scale, unified property rights and simple form. In this study, a multi-dimensional evaluation method of solar energy potential suitable for the block-scale is constructed. Then, 48 cases of industrial blocks in a typical city of china were selected as examples. Basing on morphological parameters, all cases were classified into 7 types by clustering algorithm. Afterwards, the total amount and distribution of the solar energy potential were calculated. Finally, the strategies of the photovoltaic system application in blocks were proposed according to types of blocks. It is found that there is significant difference in solar energy potential between different types of industrial blocks. Among them, solar energy potential of single-storey types is the highest up to 90.85 kW h/m2•year, while solar energy potential of high-rise type blocks is relatively lower which is only 55.64 kW h/m2•year. In addition, block shape has obvious impact on solar energy potential, among which building density having the greatest influence, as building density increases from 20 % to 55 %, the solar energy potential also increased by 138.74 % from 42.54 kW h/m2•year to 101.56 kW h/m2•year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An urban block classification method based on clustering algorithm is applied. • Occlusion coefficient shows three main groups, which represent three types of urban block. • Occlusion factors of urban block types helps to revise the evaluation of urban roof solar energy potential. • A method for quickly obtaining solar energy potential based on 2D urban roof images is introduced. • Correlation between coefficient and latitude of cities has been discussed, which shows high relevance and can help to assess other cities. Relevant research shows that the potential of solar energy utilization varies greatly in different occlusion conditions. However, existing methods of assessing macro-city-scale solar roof utilization potential are not capable of considering the factor of mutual occlusion between urban buildings. To measure the overall solar photovoltaic utilization potential of the city, it is necessary to quantify the occlusion caused by the urban environmental building roof. This paper uses typical high-density blocks to quantify differences of occlusions on the building roof caused by urban blocks and building functions. Taking Wuhan as an example, a large number of urban blocks which form indicators were counted were selected as research samples, the data sets covers six types of morphological indicators to classify the urban blocks, and then the above blocks was modelled to simulate the solar radiation in order to obtain the values and combine with their morphological parameters, which will help to get roof solar occlusion factors by linear regression ways. The overall roof occlusion coefficient result of Wuhan is 0.079. By applying the above-mentioned occlusion coefficient to measure the solar energy potential of Hongshan District in Wuhan, the annual photovoltaic power generation was calculated to be able to reach 168.02GWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New automated method for modeling 2D rooftops from open-source satellite images. • Cheaper and faster processing compared with LiDAR and other traditional methods. • Capability of achieving large-scale operations in the city-scale. • Urban solar energy assessment provides basis of district energy planning. This study presents a novel approach to detect the city-wide solar potential which utilizes image segmentation with deep learning technology unlike traditional methods. In order to study the solar energy potential in the urban scale, there exists a requirement to quantify the roof area of buildings which are available to receive solar radiation, calculate the total solar radiation obtained within the region based on the meteorological conditions, and determine the total solar energy potential with carbon emissions savings and the economic recovery period. However, obtaining the overall roof area of a city is an existing difficulty when considering the quantification of solar potential in the urban scale. This study utilizes the U-Net of deep learning technology, and a large range of satellite maps to identify the building roof, in order to estimate the city's solar potential. This research established that the urban roofs of Wuhan have an annual photovoltaic electricity generation potential of 17292.30 × 106 kWh/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New method for evaluating rooftop PV potential in land-use type. • Decline the difficulty of obtaining urban land-use data. • Capability of analyzing several cities with less time cost. • Three types of land use have the highest rooftop solar utilization potential. To strengthen the synergy between urban photovoltaic development and urban planning, which can help to promote photovoltaic and renewable energy development in cities, a workflow based on a deep-learning method by using neural networks and urban satellite images is constructed, which is applied to study the relationship between urban rooftop photovoltaic potential and urban land use. A Chinese city, Wuhan, has been considered the subject and divided into 5184 units, which is a 1201.2 km2 area in central urban space. The result shows that, three types of urban land use type have the highest rooftop photovoltaic potential, which are Continuous Urban area, Discontinuous Dense Urban area and Industrial, commercial, public and education unit. The annual photovoltaic potential of these three land use types have reached 1818.41 GWh/year, 1957.32 GWh/year and 2022.71 GWh/year, and the average photovoltaic power generation per unit area of these three types have reached 11.23 GWh/km2·year, 9.99 GWh/km2·year and 13.07 GWh/km2·year. In addition, these three land use types contributed 71.4% of the city's total rooftop photovoltaic potential. When considering the coordination of roof photovoltaic development and urban planning, these three types of land use should be given priority. The method and findings can provide urban planning authorities with tools and data to reference when developing urban master plan and PV development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]