The proposed block configurations are classified in to three groups depending on the variables that will be studied. Each group will consist of a number of scenarios or configurations. The simulation results of the suggested scenarios of each group will be compared to each other and to the base case. In the developed and examined scenarios, the adopted form the Pavilion has been placed in different configurations. However, general dimensions for plot area is adopted in order to evaluate the effect of the developed scenarios on the outdoor microclimate and indoor energy consumption. In the developed scenarios, the physical dimensions of the building and street width is adopted from the measurements collected from the case study that was used for the software validation.
In addition of using the urban regulation codes recommended dimensions. The dimensions of the plot selected for the proposed cluster or block is (400m*300m) with total plot area of 120,000 m^2. Therefore, the boundary dimensions of the selected grid for ENVI-Met simulation software will be (80*60) by assuming the cell size dx = 5, dy = 5, and dz = 2.
The height boundary dimension is varied according to the height of buildings, and it is assigned by the software as double the height of the highest building. This grid dimensions represent the total plot of the block and the boundary dimensions of the simulation model.
The buildings have uniform dimensions of (30m*30m), and the height of the buildings is varied according to the scenario or group configurations. Total building floor area or gross
145 floor area (GFA) for each building of the base case configuration and all configurations is 900m². The total BUA of the building according to the floor number is 5,400m² for each building in the base case. However, the total BUA of the urban block is 129,600m².
This BUA of the urban block represents the total BUA of the 24 buildings in all configurations of the three groups. The width of the main canyon (street) and the two side canyons is the same (25m) in all configurations of the first two groups, while the alleys width is fixed at15m. For the third group the canyon and alley width will be varied according each of the configuration settings.
Figure 4.7shows the plan, cross and longitudinal sections in x and y directions for the base case configuration. However, the same plan (top view) represents the first and the second group configurations. The sections (front and side view) will be varied according to the buildings height variation for each configuration in the two first groups.
Figure 4.8 presents the third group configurations, the plan or top view of each configuration is illustrated in figures 4.8 a, b and c for the three configurations of the third group. The details of each configuration and the width variation of the canyons and alleys will be explained in detail in the next chapter.
146 Figure 4.7: The plan and the two sections A-A and B-B along the long and short axis of the base case
configuration (5:5:5:5) (Author, 2018)
a) The top view of the first config
width 25m, alleys width 20m G3
b) The top view of the second config
width 20m, alleys width 20m G3
top view of the first configuration in the third group, the uniform height 32m width 25m, alleys width 20m G3-3.0 (25:20) (Author, 2018)
The top view of the second configuration in the third group, the uniform height 32m width 20m, alleys width 20m G3-3.1 (20:20)
147 the uniform height 32m,main canyons
)
the uniform height 32m,main canyons
c) The top view of the third config
width 20m, alleys width 15m G3 Figure 4.8: Plans
4.6.1 The Base Case Configuration
The base case represents the common and simple block of 24 buildings that forms the urban block. The buildings in this group are with one uniform height 24m as it is selected from the midrise buildings category, with a floor number G+5 and the average sele
floor is 4m.
The total built-up area of each building is 5400 m² and the total 129,600 m². The 24 buildings are placed in the Pavilion setting two side canyons of 25m in width accor
codes followed in the UAE, Dubai.
are with a width of 15m. Building
recommended in the green code and regulations issued by Dubai Municipality, and it will be illustrated in detail in the input data section for the simulation software
The top view of the third configuration in the third group, the uniform height 32m width 20m, alleys width 15m G3-3.2 (20:15)
Figure 4.8: Plans of the third group three configurations (Author, 2
4.6.1 The Base Case Configuration
The base case represents the common and simple block of 24 buildings that forms the urban block. The buildings in this group are with one uniform height 24m as it is selected from the midrise buildings category, with a floor number G+5 and the average sele
area of each building is 5400 m² and the total built-up area of the block is m². The 24 buildings are placed in the Pavilion setting with one main canyon and two side canyons of 25m in width according to the data extracted from the urban planning Dubai. The vertical alleys or the setback between the buildings are with a width of 15m. Building materials and specifications extracted from the materials en code and regulations issued by Dubai Municipality, and it will be in the input data section for the simulation software.
148 the uniform height 32m,main canyons
2018)
The base case represents the common and simple block of 24 buildings that forms the urban block. The buildings in this group are with one uniform height 24m as it is selected from the midrise buildings category, with a floor number G+5 and the average selected height of the
area of the block is with one main canyon and ding to the data extracted from the urban planning The vertical alleys or the setback between the buildings materials and specifications extracted from the materials en code and regulations issued by Dubai Municipality, and it will be
149 The base case will provide a standard or the scale for comparing other groups and their different scenarios or configurations. Figure 4.9 illustrates the base case and the three groups of the simulated models and their descriptions.
4.6.2 The First Group Configurations
The first group is a configuration of 24 buildings that forms the urban block with a variation in buildings height. It represents building topologies and height variation along the short direction of the complex. The variation in building height is adopted and represented by the proportion of (3:7). Hence, two different height are implemented in this group; G+3 and G +7 with a buildings height of 16m and 32m, respectively. The total BUA for the whole block is kept as the same BUA of the general base case 129,600 m². This group consists of four different scenarios or configurations. The first scenario of this group is with a configuration of G1-1.0 (7:3:3:7) which represents the variation in height from higher to lower towards the centre of the block. The second configuration G1-1.1 (3:7:7:3) represents the block with fluctuated height for building arrangement, and the third configuration G1-1.2 (3:7:3:7) is developed by placing the highest buildings in the middle of the block. The fourth configuration G1-1.3 (3:3:7:7) adopting the variation in building height towards one direction from the lower to higher building. These four configurations will be simulated in four different ordinations: N-S,E-W, NE-SW, and NW-SE. Therefore, 12 models will represent this group and will be simulated in order to be compared with each other from one side, and with the base case from the other side. This comparison will be in terms of outdoor microclimate micro climate parameters and indoor cooling load consumption (Figure 4.9).
4.6.3 The Second Group Configurations
The second group represents building topology and height variation along the long axis of the block. The same configuration of the 24 buildings that forms the base case urban block is
150 selected with three different, gradual heights. The three heights with a floor number G+3, G+5, and G+7 and building heights of 16m, 24m, and 32m, respectively.
The first case of this group is G2-2.0 with proportions of (7:5:3:3:5:7). The other scenarios represent the height variation extending from the outer and inner directions of the block to
form five more scenarios or models, namely: G2-2.1 (5:7:3:3:7:5), G2-2.2 (7:3:5:5:3:7), G2-2.3 (3:7:5:5:7:3), G2-2.4 (3:5:7:7:5:3), and G2-2.5 (5:3:7:7:3:5). Each model will be
simulated in the four ordinations; N-S, E-W, NE-SW, and NW-SE to result in 24 different configuration and output datasets of the second proposed group (Figure 4.9).
4.6.4 The Third Group Configurations
The third group consists of three configurations. The criteria of developing this group is finding the effect of the stagger or alternative arrangement of the buildings on the canyon micro climate parameters. Similar to the base case and the two first groups, the block of the buildings in the third group contains 24 buildings with a uniform height of G+5 and 24m.
Each configuration has the same total BUA of the base case with an area of 5,400 m² and 129,600 m² for the building and the block, respectively. The buildings will be arranged alternatively by placing the second row in the centre of the first row. Accordingly, the canyons width would be changed to achieve this arrangement. In the first configuration the alternative arrangement will be adopted in the long direction and the canyon width will be kept at25m, while the alleys width will be increased to 20m. In the second configuration the alternative arrangement will be in both directions of the block, hence, the canyons and the alley width will be the same width of 20m. The third configuration will represent the arrangement in the short direction, therefore, the alleys width will be the same as the base case 15m, and the canyons width will be reduced to 20m (Figure 4.9).
151 The Base Case Configuration
The First Group
The Second Group G1-1.0 (7:3:3:7)
Base Case (5:5:5:5)
G1-1.1 (3:7:7:3) G1-1.2 (3:7:3:7) G1-1.3 (3:3:7:7)
G 2-2.0 (7:5:3:3:5:7) G 2-2.1 (3:5:7:7:5:3) G 2-2.2 (5:7:3:3:7:5)
G 2-2.3 (7:3:5:5:3:7) G 2-2.4 (3:7:5:5:7:3) G 2-2.5(5:3:7:7:3:5)
152 The Third Group
Figure 4.9: The base case and the three groups of the proposed configurations according to the studied variables; building height variation and alternative configurations
4.7 Initial Input Data for Simulation Process