Accelerating passive cooling potential for climate resilient urban design in cities

Cardiff University is offering a PhD project focused on enhancing passive cooling strategies in urban design to improve climate resilience. The research aims to quantify the effectiveness of interventions like urban greening and reflective materials across various climates. Applicants should have a relevant degree and programming skills. The role is full-time and involves advanced simulation tools and field measurements.
The increasing frequency and intensity of urban heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change and urbanization, pose significant challenges to public health, energy consumption, and livability. Passive cooling strategies, such as optimized urban design, vegetation, and sustainable building materials, offer a low-energy and cost-effective solution to mitigate the urban heat stress and enhance thermal comfort. However, the full potential of passive cooling strategies remains underutilized due to a lack of understanding of their combined impacts at the city scale, especially under varying climatic conditions, and their implementation potential in the real-world scenarios.

This PhD project aims to investigate and accelerate the integration of passive cooling strategies into urban design to improve climate resilience in cities. The research will focus on quantifying the cooling performance of different passive interventions, such as urban greening, reflective materials, and urban geometry optimization, across diverse climatic regions. By employing advanced simulation tools (such as integrated urban climate modelling developed in the research group at Cardiff University), field measurements, and spatial analysis, the project will evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in reducing indoor and urban temperatures, enhancing both indoor and outdoor thermal comfort, and minimizing energy demands for cooling.

Academic Criteria

Applicants are expected to have a very good bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subjects of architectural/urban science, building service engineering, physical geography, atmospheric science or related subject. Programming skills are preferred. Previous experience on urban climate modelling 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, and architecture and building design.