Sky view factor analysis for a compact self-contained urban university campus: a case study of IIT Gandhinagar

Abstract

Climate change has led to increasing incidences of heat waves in urban India over the past decade. Despite this, many residents need to walk from one area to another to meet their livelihoods. Their thermal comfort during these times depends on factors like heat retention and air circulation. The Sky View Factor (SVF) is a simple metric that represents all of these factors and is a strong determinant of thermal comfort in urban areas. In this study, the SVF of a densely populated and compact urban campus of IIT Gandhinagar was measured across different urban morphologies to investigate the variation of thermal comfort. Findings reveal that SVF significantly differs across campus zones, with densely built hostel areas showing low SVF due to buildings and trees, while open sports facilities exhibit high SVF. Academic and parking areas demonstrate moderate SVF values. A statistical analysis revealed that the campus broadly consists of distinct areas with low and moderate-to-high SVF, largely based on similarities in urban morphology and the presence of trees. The findings show that campus residents are exposed to varying levels of SVF and, thus, different levels of thermal comfort within a relatively small geographical area. Incorporating SVF into urban planning considerations may improve thermal comfort and make cities more sustainable.