Multi-spatial environmental performance evaluation towards integrated urban design: A procedural approach with computational simulations

Urban environments are significantly important in the process of design thinking for the sectors of urban design and planning. This is often neglected or weakened in the process of [urban] design development. In this respect, we can argue in favour of integrated urban design which can be achieved in various ways; one of which is the use of computational tools in simulating and modelling the urban environments for the process of design development. In this study, the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in simulation of urban environments is examined at various scales and stages of the urban design process. A UK case study is presented to analyse the procedure in which CFD can play an influential role to inform design. Furthermore, the study examines the practical application of CFD for integrated urban design and landscape design at micro and meso scales. Finally, this research study aims to provide a procedural model for the use of CFD tools in the process of design development.