Microclimate mitigation, analysis and design tools: Case study of controviali in Turin

The thesis evaluates the microclimate conditions in relation to mobility of Turin. The research is performed on the most common streets, unique to Turin, avenues with “controviali”, with the aim to examine the possibility of intervention relative to the type and scope of mobility and microclimate mitigation in accordance to the Sustainable Development Agenda. The research investigates which elements contribute to the microclimate conditions and to which extent, and which strategies could be used for its mitigation. The thesis consists of two phases. The first phase is a theoretical background which supports the research performed in the second phase. It is structured in two chapters. The first chapter includes a review of scientific literature on the sustainable development, microclimate, its mitigation and adaptation, and software for its analysis. The second chapter is dedicated to the best practices, the projects carried out recently, which include microclimate strategies and nature based solutions, and research case studies which investigate microclimate mitigation strategies using ENVI-met software for simulation. The second phase consists of two parts. The first part represents the extensive research and urban-scale analysis of the streets with controviali in Turin, which resulted in the creation of a database containing their properties and typology. In the second part, six main case studies were selected based on the street section typology, different surface coverage, aspect ratio, orientation and mobility type. Microclimate analysis was performed on each case study in ENVI-met software and four main parameters were analysed: potential air temperature, surface temperature, wind speed and PET. The results were examined in relation to the parameters proven in the prior scientific research to have impact on the microclimate: urban canyon and its orientation, surface typology and presence of vegetation. The assessment of the results indicated which elements have the most impact on the climate conditions in the case studies, which allowed for the proposal of different mitigation strategies. Due to the rigidity of the already formed urban matrix, the same strategies could not be applied in all the spaces, which led to the prioritization of strategies.