The application of urban climate research in the design of cities

In spite of the growing body of research on urban climatology and the increasing demand for architects and urban planners to practise climate-conscious design, there is too little evidence of the application of urban climatology in practice. This chapter explores the relationship between climatologists and urban planners, seeking to establish some of the reasons for this state of affairs. It then sets out a methodological framework for the application of climatology in the planning process, outlining possible goals for such intervention, as well as its limitations. The chapter then attempts to establish the effects on the urban microclimate of a broad range of decisions taken routinely by architects and planners, based on an extensive survey of applied research in the field.