ZEMCH 2019 International Conference Proceedings April.2020 | Page 53
(a) 1st June, 6:00 am
(b) 1st June, 6:00 pm
Figure 5. The Sun Path analysis during morning and evening along the East‐West axis [10].
The community plot is a triangle shape and one edge of the community plot is extended along the
East‐West axis, but only 40% of the units extend along the same direction. Thus, the community urban
plan would be more sustainable if the units were arranged parallel to the side along the East‐West axis
in an early planning stage. Yet, it was observed that the compacted form provides more shading and
less exposure to solar radiation for the inner units compared to the outer units (Figure 6).
(a) Solar Gain in Hours
(b) Solar Gain in Percentage
Figure 6. Solar attitude in the compact form community during 1st of June [10].
4. Further Analysis, Results and Discussion
As part of the analysis, three scenarios were adopted to improve the Al Waha community
sustainability. The thinking or the criteria behind these scenarios was to suggest an applicable practice
to enhance the community sustainability. Community urban sustainability is improved from two
aspects; livability and environmental or thermal performance. Enhancing livability covers a number of
parameters; (1) Land use, (2) Accessibility, (3) Walkability, and (4) Open and green areas. While the
environmental or the thermal performance parameters represented by improving solar shading and
total solar gains through adopting (5) Height diversity. The modifications consist of three adopted
scenarios was to enhance the community sustainability, which are simulated and analyzed by using
CityCAD and IES‐VE. In addition, using LEED (ND) v4 checklist as an overall and integrated urban
sustainability evaluation and assessment tool was to find the sustainability level of the existing and
modified case study.
4.1. Scenario One
The Community livability could be improved by providing some daily required services such as
shops, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant and cafe, financial services, assembly and leisure, hot food
and takeaway. This could be obtained by converting a number of the residential units in the community
to provide the missing services. In addition, to add two stories for these units to increase building
Investigating Optimization of Sustainability at an Urban Level: A Case Study of Dubai Neighborhoods
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