Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai
Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is critical for sustaining plant growth in the ground and on building surfaces, but how to accurately predict PAR availability in a complex urban environment can be a challenge. Using an advanced ray-tracing software (Radiance 4.0) and local weather data, th...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
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| author | Xi Zhang Jiangtao Du Steve Sharples |
| author_facet | Xi Zhang Jiangtao Du Steve Sharples |
| author_sort | Xi Zhang |
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| description | Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is critical for sustaining plant growth in the ground and on building surfaces, but how to accurately predict PAR availability in a complex urban environment can be a challenge. Using an advanced ray-tracing software (Radiance 4.0) and local weather data, this study presents a dynamic analysis of the effects of layout, façade orientation and height on PAR availability in four high density residential areas in Shanghai city, China. A metric system was also adopted using three light level requirements of outdoor plants (low, medium, high light levels). Key findings included: (1) the urban layout with the highest ratio of building height to north–south facing adjacent building separation achieved the higher levels of PAR availability for low/medium light level plants and the lower levels of PAR availability for high-light plants for middle and low façades and the ground, while high façades in all layouts could see similar PAR availability for all plants. (2) The PAR availability for low/medium-light plants decreased with the increasing façade height, while the PAR availability for high-light plants showed the opposite trend. (3) The north façade and its ground had higher levels of PAR availability for low/medium-light plants and lower levels of PAR availability for high-light plants than other façades. (4) All layouts offered more opportunities to apply high-light and medium-light plants at façades and the ground. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a02217412f6e4479a90d57dee71470a6 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-a02217412f6e4479a90d57dee71470a62025-06-25T14:29:49ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-06-019622210.3390/urbansci9060222Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in ShanghaiXi Zhang0Jiangtao Du1Steve Sharples2Liverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZN, UKLiverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZN, UKLiverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZN, UKPhotosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is critical for sustaining plant growth in the ground and on building surfaces, but how to accurately predict PAR availability in a complex urban environment can be a challenge. Using an advanced ray-tracing software (Radiance 4.0) and local weather data, this study presents a dynamic analysis of the effects of layout, façade orientation and height on PAR availability in four high density residential areas in Shanghai city, China. A metric system was also adopted using three light level requirements of outdoor plants (low, medium, high light levels). Key findings included: (1) the urban layout with the highest ratio of building height to north–south facing adjacent building separation achieved the higher levels of PAR availability for low/medium light level plants and the lower levels of PAR availability for high-light plants for middle and low façades and the ground, while high façades in all layouts could see similar PAR availability for all plants. (2) The PAR availability for low/medium-light plants decreased with the increasing façade height, while the PAR availability for high-light plants showed the opposite trend. (3) The north façade and its ground had higher levels of PAR availability for low/medium-light plants and lower levels of PAR availability for high-light plants than other façades. (4) All layouts offered more opportunities to apply high-light and medium-light plants at façades and the ground.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/6/222photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)urban layoutfaçade orientationfaçade heightdense residential areaShanghai |
| spellingShingle | Xi Zhang Jiangtao Du Steve Sharples Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai Urban Science photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) urban layout façade orientation façade height dense residential area Shanghai |
| title | Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai |
| title_full | Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai |
| title_short | Effects of Urban Layout, Façade Orientation, and Façade Height on Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Availability in a Dense Residential Area: A Dynamic Analysis in Shanghai |
| title_sort | effects of urban layout facade orientation and facade height on photosynthetically active radiation par availability in a dense residential area a dynamic analysis in shanghai |
| topic | photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) urban layout façade orientation façade height dense residential area Shanghai |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/6/222 |
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