The microclimate implications of urban form applying computer simulation: systematic literature review.

The urbanization and expansion of cities have raised sustainability concerns and impacted the overall quality of life. Numerous studies have explored sustainable cities with climate-adapted urban and architectural designs, particularly focusing on optimizing thermal comfort within different urban morphologies. This publication presents a meticulous systematic review analyzing how urban form influences microclimatic conditions through advanced computer simulations. The PRISMA methodology condenses key indicators to facilitate informed decision making. A robust dataset from reputable databases such as ProQuest, Web of Science, and Scopus was analyzed, revealing discernible climate patterns, with hot arid (Bwh) and humid subtropical (Csa) climates being the most studied. The Thermal Comfort Index predominantly relies on the PET metric, with ENVI-met software as a popular simulation tool. Uncontrolled urban sprawl, surface impermeability, and lack of greenery exacerbate the urban heat island effect, leading to multifaceted environmental, social, and energy-related implications. The study underscores the importance of exploring topics like urban forms and morphology while advocating for increased attention to specific climatic conditions and urban scales. The growing prevalence of computational simulations for climate analysis emerges as a pivotal area of interest for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]