CFD study of the impact of green infrastructure on urban microclimate

Green infrastructure (GI) has been considered as one of most important passive air quality control strategies in cities for promoting health benefits as well as enhancing ecological service such as mitigating urban heat island. These green solutions include street trees, vegetation barriers (including hedges), green (or living) walls, and green (or living) roofs. The air pollution abatement performance of various types of green infrastructure in the urban areas, either individually or in combination, is still not clear. The combined effect of GI on air pollution and urban heat mitigation deserves further investigation, which is the key of the proposed project.

This project will apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a powerful tool, to assess the impact of GI on air pollution dispersion and urban thermal environment in cities. The complex interplay of the flow aerodynamics and thermal buoyancy due to GI will be researched. A real-world case study in two representative urban areas such as City of London and Reading will be carried out. There is also opportunity to conduct wind tunnel measurement in the collaborative universities in Sweden.

Applicants are expected to have a very good bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subjects of fluid mechanics, building service engineering, environmental engineering or related subject. Programming skills are preferred. Previous experience on CFD is especially welcome. The PhD student will join a vibrant research group, building environmental engineering, comprised of leading experts in the areas of urban microclimate, indoor air health and architecture and building design.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Zhiwen (Vincent) Luo at [Email Address Removed]