The Effect Of Morphological Transformation On Urban Heat Distribution: A Multifaceted Microclimatic Assessment Of Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Zones In Elazığ

Date

2026-1

Author

Karabacak, Melike Berfin

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This study examines the impact of post-earthquake urban reconstruction on urban morphology and the thermal environment in Elazığ, focusing on the changes following the 2020 earthquake. While post-disaster reconstruction primarily prioritizes structural safety, its implications for urban microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort are often overlooked. In this context, the thesis investigates three regions in Abdullah Paşa, Mustafa Paşa, and Sürsürü, that underwent significant morphological transformation after the earthquake. A comparative analysis of pre-earthquake (2020) and post-reconstruction (2025) urban configurations was conducted using computational simulation tools. Urban morphology was modelled in Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper to calculate the Sky View Factor (SVF), while microclimatic parameters—including Potential Air Temperature (PAT), wind speed, and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)—were simulated using ENVI-met. The analysis covers critical diurnal periods to assess both daytime thermal stress and nocturnal cooling behaviour within the urban canopy. The results indicate that post-earthquake reconstruction did not lead to a uniform reduction in thermal stress; instead, it reorganised the spatial distribution of urban heat across neighbourhoods. Although sky openness increased in several areas, this change did not consistently improve thermal comfort, and in some cases was associated with intensified daytime heat exposure. The findings demonstrate that SVF is a key but non-exclusive morphological parameter, whose relationship with UTCI is highly context-dependent and varies with urban configuration. The study concludes that post-disaster urban reconstruction should integrate climate-sensitive morphological strategies alongside structural resilience to enhance long-term thermal performance and urban livability.

Subject Keywords

Urban Heat Island (UHI), Sky View Factor (SVF), Post-Earthquake Reconstruction, Urban Wind Field, Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/118730

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Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis