Urban Microclimate and Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Hot-Arid Cities
Simulation-Based Analysis in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital
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Outdoor thermal comfort is a critical determinant in the quality of urban life in hot-arid climates, particularly within newly developed governmental districts. This study employs a sequential mixed-methods approach to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort in the Governmental District of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. A systematic literature review following the PRISMA protocol, supported by bibliometric analysis, was conducted to identify effective climate-responsive mitigation strategies. The study area was classified into five thermal zones using K-means clustering to assess microclimatic conditions before and after the implementation of integrated design interventions. Simulation results based on Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), selected as the primary outdoor thermal comfort index due to its widespread application in ENVI-met-based hot-arid studies, reveal substantial thermal improvements across all zones, with improvements exceeding 10 °C in specific areas. Thermal stress classification indicates a shift from extreme heat stress to moderate and slight stress levels, indicating the thermal mitigation potential of the applied interventions. The findings provide a zone-based analytical framework with potential applicability to climate-responsive urban design in comparable hot-arid environments.
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