On the Calculation of Urban Morphological Parameters Using GIS: An Application to Italian Cities

The identification of parameters that can quantitatively describe the different characteristics urban morphology is fundamental to studying ventilation and microclimate at local level developing parameterizations dynamic effect an area in mesoscale models. This paper proposes a methodology calculate four morphological parameters, namely mean height, aspect ratio, sky view factor, plan five cities located southern (Bari Lecce), central (Naples Rome), northern (Milan) Italy. calculation performed using Geographical Information System (GIS), starting from land use data collected analyzed shapefiles. proposed methodology, which be replicated other cities, also presents detail procedure followed properly build input factor UMEP GIS tool. results show gradual increase index, λp, building H¯, moving south north Maximum values λp H¯ are obtained regions Milan, Rome, Naples, where highest spatially-averaged found, i.e., = 0.22, 10.9 m Milan; 0.19, 12.7 Rome; 0.20, 12 Naples. Furthermore, for all investigated, areas characterized by Corine Land Cover class as “continuous fabric” those with medium SVF (around 0.6–0.7) 0.3) typical intermediate/compact cities. employed here calculating proves replicable contexts. opens better classification climate zones (LCZ), shown Lecce region, useful heat island (UHI) studies development effects global regional