Quintero et al. (2026) Modelling Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) Through Numerical Simulations: A Literature Review

Identification

• Journal: Lecture notes in civil engineering
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Natalia Bernal Quintero, Alessia Banfi, Martina Ferrando, C. Galán-Marín, C. Rivera-Gómez, Riccardo Mereu, Francesco Causone
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-06810-1_101

Research Groups

• University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
• Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
• Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain

Short Summary

This literature review examines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling approaches used to analyze the thermal and aerodynamic impacts of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI). It highlights the thermal benefits of trees and the role of various vegetation types in stabilizing urban microclimates, emphasizing the need for improved modeling techniques for climate adaptation.

Objective

• To review Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling approaches used to analyze the thermal and aerodynamic impacts of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) in urban environments.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Urban microclimates, ranging from building-scale to neighborhood-scale.
• Temporal Scale: Continuous processes and specific events (e.g., heat waves) impacting urban microclimates.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models, Navier-Stokes equations, energy and mass balance equations, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models (commonly k-ε turbulence model).
• Data sources: Scientific literature reviewing numerical simulations of urban green infrastructure.

Main Results

• CFD models integrate aerodynamic effects via source terms in Navier-Stokes equations and thermal impacts through source terms in energy and mass balance equations.
• Modeling evapotranspiration in urban areas faces constraints due to parameter homogeneity and computational intensity, leading to a trade-off between precision and efficiency in simplified models.
• Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models, particularly the k-ε turbulence model, are frequently chosen for their computational efficiency, while more advanced models offer higher precision at greater computational cost.
• Trees provide significant thermal benefits in urban environments.
• Various forms of vegetation, including grass, green roofs, and green facades, are crucial for stabilizing urban microclimates.
• The specific shapes of vegetation (e.g., cylindrical, spheroidal, flat) influence their effectiveness in enhancing cooling and airflow based on their configuration.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on numerical simulations, specifically CFD modeling, for assessing the impacts of Urban Green Infrastructure.
• Identifies key challenges and trade-offs in modeling complex processes like evapotranspiration and turbulence within urban environments.
• Consolidates knowledge on the specific thermal and aerodynamic benefits offered by different types and configurations of urban vegetation.
• Underscores the critical need for advancements in modeling techniques to effectively scale and optimize UGI for urban climate adaptation strategies.

Funding

• PhD programme in Sustainable Development and Climate Change at the University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Cycle XXXVIII.
• Scholarship financed by Ministerial Decree no. 351 of 9th April 2022, based on the NRRP, funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.

Citation

@article{Quintero2026Modelling,
  author = {Quintero, Natalia Bernal and Banfi, Alessia and Ferrando, Martina and Galán-Marín, C. and Rivera-Gómez, C. and Mereu, Riccardo and Causone, Francesco},
  title = {Modelling Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) Through Numerical Simulations: A Literature Review},
  journal = {Lecture notes in civil engineering},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/978-3-032-06810-1_101},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06810-1_101}
}