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The session began with Darren Woolf from Wirth Research, who set the scene by challenging traditional approaches to urban environmental quality. Marialena Nikolopoulou from the University of Kent followed with insights on integrating UEQ principles directly into urban design, illustrating how well-planned spaces can improve environmental and social outcomes.
Rubina Ramponi of Arup shared methods for estimating UEQ in real-world projects, highlighting the complexities involved in measuring factors such as pollution, noise, and temperature in diverse urban settings. Steve Moorcroft of AQ Consultants then provided a focused look at urban air quality, a critical component of UEQ that directly impacts public health. Stefano Cammelli from WSP brought an engineering perspective on wind microclimates, discussing the nuances and inconsistencies in current studies, and Giulio Vita from Ramboll closed by exploring how wind compliance standards can enhance UEQ.
The panel, facilitated by Maarten van Reeuwijk from Imperial College London, addressed critical questions on the intersection of UEQ with sustainability, resilience, and policy, with a focus on how these efforts align with global climate adaptation strategies. This timely dialogue emphasised the need for stronger UEQ guidelines and standards to support healthier, more sustainable cities.
Presentations:
- Urban Environmental Quality: Challenging Knowledge. Darren Woolf (Wirth Research)
- Integrating Urban Environmental Quality in urban design. Marialena Nikolopoulou (University of Kent)
- Estimating UEQ in practice. Rubina Ramponi (Arup)
- Urban Air Quality and planning. Steve Moorcroft (AQ consultants)
- Wind microclimate studies in the UK: nuances, inconsistencies, and current challenges. Stefano Cammelli (WSP)
- Using wind compliance to improve UEQ. Giulio Vita (Ramboll)