Introduction
It is notable that the landscape of urban area has a climatic influence in human factors like air quality. Knowledge about the climate of an area can be used in urban planning process. In the recent past, study show that urban planners interested in climatic aspects used climatic information unsystematically and the results were low impact of the planning processes. This low impact was a result of technicalities involved, policy, conceptual and knowledge based and organizational and the market. Urban climatologist should provide adequate information and also encourage and create awareness to urban planners as well as the decision makers involved.
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The urban climate is different from the surrounding area because of the materials used to construct buildings and other structures. The wind pattern is also influenced through reduction of the speed due to tall buildings that do exist. Temperature difference produces weak airflow. During the day air is drier than the in the rural areas. In spite of the available knowledge about the climate, the impact of climate in planning urban area is on the low. Present study is aimed to answer questions like, is it crucial for the climatologist concentrate on climatic maps or on real world measurements? The present study also is aimed at integration of knowledge about the climate in urban planning by considering climate in urban planning.
A scientific research whose hypothesis was that the climatic knowledge has low impact on the urban planning was conducted. Intensive study was carried out in Sweden in three cities namely; Goteberg, Trollhattan and Tridaholm. The main aim was to investigate how climate knowledge is used in urban planning. Formulated questionnaires were administered. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and informal discussions were held.
Information was collected using questionnaires. Results showed that many were aware of the local climate in the city and its influence in strategic urban planning. Others thought that they had knowledge about the urban climate. It was difficult to determine barriers which ha the greatest impact. Individuals used different methods for finding and using climatic data. The hypothesis was confirmed that climatic knowledge had low impact on urban planning. Several constraints could be identified concerning the influence of climatic knowledge. From the whole research carried out, key conclusions were made. Suitable tools and courses were to be developed for the urban planners. Urban climate awareness needed to be improved. Improved argumentation and communication was deemed necessary.
Work cited
Landscape and Urban planning. The use of climatic knowledge in urban planning. www.elsevier.com/locate/estoc/html. 15th November 2013
