Greater need for mobility and logistics in cities and increased urbanization are the results of a growing population, rising prosperity, and increased economic activity. The current approach to urban design led to loss of biodiversity in cities, destruction of ecosystems, proliferation of cars, air, water, light and noise pollution, and urban heat island. Humans tend to spend more and more time indoors, with detrimental effects on mental and physical well-being, disconnecting between each other and the natural environment.
On the other hand, poor outdoor areas expose a growing number of individuals to environmental stressors, which also increase stress and deteriorate mental health. Together with architects and urban developers, in Urban Engineering we design outdoor urban spaces that are comfortable, healthy, and lively throughout the year.
Reconnect with the environment and each other
The goal is to invite people to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with the environment and each other. We do this not through large-scale urban planning, but with small-scale intervention in the urban fabric, for instance at the district level or even just in the public spaces around a single building. This increases the social value of public spaces and in turn, helps reduce the use of resources (like energy) in buildings.
CitySense Development
To achieve this, we developed CitySense. CitySense is a dynamic 3D model and a dashboard that visualizes multi-physics analyses of the urban environment based on data and simulations. The tool is intended to help stakeholders monitor and control the design during the preliminary phases of urban development. Users can choose from six themes: mobility, thermal comfort, green, water, wind, and daylight to show the qualitative and quantitative aspirations in the outside spaces.
CitySense’s approach is “information-based” rather than “data-driven.” It processes a large amount of site-specific data and combines it with advanced simulations and various computational tools. The method, ‘Urban Layers,’ involves multi-physics analysis, where it considers wind, noise, daylight, air quality, mobility, flood risk, etc., and their interaction. We then crystallize the information directly usable in the design process.
The tool’s ultimate objective is to compare the impact of different design decisions, such as the location, size, and form of the buildings, with instant quantified measurements of the surrounding public spaces.
