Reimagining Urban Leftover Spaces Under Overpasses: Mitigating Urban Heat Islands and Heatwaves Through Green Space Transformation
| dc.contributor.author | Zhao, Jiahua | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Engelke, Jennifer Ann | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Kim, Mintai | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Ha, Jaeyoung | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Landscape Architecture | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-01-18T09:01:19Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2025-01-18T09:01:19Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-01-17 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | The urban thermal environment is deteriorating due to the constructed urban space and climate change, which negatively impacts public health, especially in the Urban Canopy Layer (UCL). Recent research has investigated the contribution of microclimate parametric in specific urban typologies such as plazas and streets. However, the wasted under-bridge space, which is hard to utilize and usually deemed an obstacle to community connection, is lacking in the investigation. Therefore, this research aims to study the thermal mitigation and adaptation design strategy in terms of the thermal benefit of space, eventually transforming the space with a thermal comfort perspective to the community. The site was chosen under the Williamsburg Bridge in Lower Manhattan, a highly populated and dense low-income community. The method of study is research by design. Firstly, I used open-source GIS data and community reports to investigate the neighborhood's socioeconomic status and functional outdoor space. Secondly, we conducted a site visit and thermal walk in August to measure the microclimate parameters, including air temperature, Relative Humidity (RH), wind speed, and direction, to understand the impact of different heights of under-bridge space on thermal comfort. Thirdly, we use open-source Climate Studio and Ladybug to stimulate the thermal environment of under-bridge space and interpret it with the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Based on the thermal environment analysis, measurement, and investigation to tailor the mitigative and adaptative design strategy for transforming the under-bridge. Eventually, the strategy will guide design implementation via proposed outdoor activity, planting strategies, and pavement patterns in the under-bridge space design, and it will evaluate the impact of thermal comfort with the implemented strategy on the space. The result revealed that the under-bridge space limited sunlight hours and the Sky view factor (SVF). It correlated with the space change, resulting in different stress levels on the UTCI scale. The evaluation result highlighted the tailored strategy in the design process can help alleviate the specific stress level of UTCI levels to zero or less thermal stress, especially in space with extremely low SVF conditions. This study can be a reference case for a similar under-bridge space transformation with a semi-open space, limited sunlight hours, low SVF, and close to the residential area. The study provides urban designer planners and landscape architects with a toolkit and approach from the pedestrian thermal comfort perspective rather than the aesthetic environment design in waste space reclamation strategy. | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | Urban areas are facing increasing challenges with heat, both from climate change and the way cities are built. This heat can negatively impact people's health, especially in areas close to the ground where we live and move, known as the Urban Canopy Layer (UCL). While there has been much research on cooling strategies for urban spaces like plazas and streets, under-bridge spaces—often overlooked and underused—haven't received the same attention. These spaces are typically seen as barriers rather than opportunities for community connection. My research focuses on transforming these spaces to improve comfort by addressing heat-related challenges. The site I studied is beneath the Williamsburg Bridge in Lower Manhattan, an area home to a dense, low-income population. Using a "research by design" approach, I explored how to adapt this space for better thermal comfort. First, I gathered data on the neighborhood's social and environmental conditions using community reports and maps. Then, I conducted a site visit in August to measure how factors like air temperature, humidity, and wind affect the comfort of this under-bridge space. Finally, I used digital tools to simulate the thermal environment and analyzed the results to identify strategies that could improve comfort, such as adding plants, redesigning pavement, and planning outdoor activities. The findings revealed that the unique conditions under the bridge—such as limited sunlight and restricted open views—affect how heat is experienced. By applying targeted design strategies, we showed it's possible to reduce heat stress and create a comfortable environment, even in challenging spaces. This research provides a practical framework for urban designers, planners, and landscape architects to rethink and reclaim similar under-bridge spaces. By focusing on improving comfort for pedestrians rather than just aesthetics, we can turn these neglected areas into valuable community assets. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Master of Landscape Architecture | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:42242 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124258 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Thermal comfort | en |
| dc.subject | Urban Leftover Space | en |
| dc.subject | Mitigation | en |
| dc.subject | Adaptation strategy | en |
| dc.subject | Under-overpass space | en |
| dc.title | Reimagining Urban Leftover Spaces Under Overpasses: Mitigating Urban Heat Islands and Heatwaves Through Green Space Transformation | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Landscape Architecture | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Landscape Architecture | en |
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