Geographia Technica, Vol 21, Issue 2, 2026, pp. 132-149
OPTIMIZING BIOMETEOROLOGICAL COMFORT IN THE CENTRAL PEDESTRIAN AREA OF IAȘI CITY THROUGH VARIOUS URBAN DESIGN SCENARIOS IMPLEMENTED WITH ENVI-MET
Pavel ICHIM 
, Robert ȚURCANU , Lucian SFÎCĂ
ABSTRACT: The paper analyses the biometeorological comfort of the main pedestrian area from the downtown area of Iași, Romania, during representative weather conditions for summer, aiming to identify sustainable strategies to mitigate or adapt to urban heat discomfort. Historical climate datasets were used to identify the thermal record high of the region, while microclimatic conditions were simulated with ENVI-met software. The work model was developed in ENVI-Met, allowing high-resolution (3×3×3 m grid) simulations of interactions between the lower atmosphere, built surfaces, vegetation, and in-depth soil characteristics. The analysis sampled August 7, 2012 weather conditions, identified as the hottest day between 1961 and 2025, with a recorded air temperature of 41.3°C at the Iași weather station. Three scenarios were simulated, and for each of them the model evaluated potential air temperature (PAT), mean radiant temperature (MRT), and additional biometeorological parameters derived using ENVI-met’s BIO-met module, such as skin and clothing temperature with their variations along the selected pedestrian walk. Results show an average air temperature reduction of ~2°C by using cobblestone pavement and up to 20°C lower perceived temperatures, as indicated by MRT, in shaded areas. The complex scenario - represented by a mixture of cool pavement and urban greening - yielded the most significant improvements in thermal comfort, reducing MRT values and mitigating façade heat emissions by up to 9°C through vertical vegetation systems. The findings emphasize the effectiveness of integrated greening and shading strategies in reducing the urban heat island effect. Moreover, they revalidate the capability of ENVI-met-based biometeorological modelling to serve as a decision-support tool for the sustainable design and thermal optimization of urban public spaces.
Keywords: Urban climate; ENVI-Met; Potential air temperature (PAT); mean radiant temperature (MRT), Iași.
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