02290nas a2200193   4500008004100000022001400041245012000055210006900175260001200244300001400256490000700270520148300277100001701760700001401777700001401791700001901805700001301824856025901837       2019                        eng d  a1996-359900aPerformance-driven optimization of urban open space configuration in the cold-winter and hot-summer region of China0 aPerformancedriven optimization of urban open space configuration  c03/2019  a411 - 4240 v123 a<p>Urbanization has led to changes in urban morphology and climate, while urban open space has become an important ecological factor for evaluating the performance of urban development. This study presents an optimization approach using computational performance simulation. With a genetic algorithm using the Grasshopper tool, this study analyzed the layout and configuration of urban open space and its impact on the urban micro-climate under summer and winter conditions. The outdoor mean Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was applied as the performance indicator for evaluating the quality of the urban micro-climate. Two cases—one testbed and one real urban block in Nanjing, China—were used to validate the computer-aided simulation process. The optimization results in the testbed showed UTCI values varied from 36.5 to 37.3 °C in summer and from −4.9 to −1.9 °C in winter. In the case of the real urban block, optimization results show, for summer, although the average UTCI value increased by 0.6 °C, the average air velocity increased by 0.2 m/s; while in winter, the average UTCI value increased by 1.7 °C and the average air velocity decreased by 0.2 m/s. These results demonstrate that the proposed computer-aided optimization process can improve the thermal comfort conditions of open space in urban blocks. Finally, this study discusses strategies and guidelines for the layout design of urban open space to improve urban environment comfort.</p>1 aXu, Xiaodong1 aWu, Yifan1 aWang, Wei1 aHong, Tianzhen1 aXu, Ning  uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12273-019-0510-zhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12273-019-0510-z.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12273-019-0510-z.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12273-019-0510-z/fulltext.html01861nas a2200241   4500008004100000245010500041210006900146260001200215300000900227490000700236520110600243653001701349653002101366653002701387653002201414653001101436100001701447700001601464700001401480700001901494700001701513856008901530       2018                        eng d00aPerformance-Based Evaluation of Courtyard Design in China’s Cold-Winter Hot-Summer Climate Regions0 aPerformanceBased Evaluation of Courtyard Design in China s ColdW  c10/2018  a39500 v103 a<p>Evaluates the performance of the traditional courtyard design of the Jiangnan Museum, located in Jiangsu Province. In the evaluation, the spatial layout of courtyards is adjusted, the aspect ratio is changed, and an ecological buffer space is created. To model and evaluate the performance of the courtyard design, this study applied the Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, Parabolic Hyperbolic Or Elliptic Numerical Integration Code Series (PHOENICS), for wind environment simulation, and the EnergyPlus-based software, DesignBuilder, for energy simulation. Results show that a good combination of courtyard layout and aspect ratio can improve the use of natural ventilation by increasing free cooling during hot summers and reducing cold wind in winters. The results also show that ecological buffer areas of a courtyard can reduce cooling loads in summer by approximately 19.6% and heating loads in winter by approximately 22.3%. The study provides insights into the optimal design of a courtyard to maximize its benefit in regulating the microclimate during both winter and summer.</p>10aaspect ratio10acourtyard design10aecological buffer area10aecological effect10alayout1 aXu, Xiaodong1 aLuo, Fenlan1 aWang, Wei1 aHong, Tianzhen1 aFu, Xiuzhang  uhttp://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/3950http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/3950/pdf