Author's dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Amsterdam, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-284). Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes special report study entitled: Urban spatial structure in Macau. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes special report study entitled: Movement study of ferry terminus. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [79-81]).

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-87).

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): John Arquilla, Anna Simons. Includes bibliographical references (p. 182-188). Also available online.

While the expansion of urbanisation has been occurring on an unexpected scale since the 1960s, urban density has become more and more globalized. Essentially, the dense urban morphology has been benefitted from all aspects of sustainable urban development, despite the consequential problems cannot be ignored. As sustainability is one of the most salient themes across all disciplines currently, it is necessary for the well-developed theory of morphology to contribute to sustainable development in practice. Sustainability assessment of the morphology in high-density cities is making a contribution to achieving a sustainable urban form in specific circumstances. Also, this instrument can be applied to strengthen sustainable development in terms of morphology in all cities. As conventional sustainability assessment mostly depends on the numerical sustainable indicator systems, the diagrammatic assessment approaches provide a straightforward and visual way to qualify sustainability of morphology, and express the form a sustainable urban morphology takes. Finally, it provides a direct grasp for planners, architects and local governments to design a sustainable city form, rather than only by the materials or technology employed. The final goal of this research is to better implement sustainability indicator system to assess sustainable morphology in the high-density context. This study therefore commences with respective demonstrations of the theories of morphology, diagrammatic methods and sustainability indicator systems through a literature review, in order to build up the theoretical underpinnings for the development of diagrammatic methods. At the same time, it explores the virtues of morphological and diagrammatic methods, which are applied as complements to the shortcomings of sustainability indicator systems that have emerged and are utilized to evaluate sustainable morphology. Afterwards, this research attempts to investigate what is sustainable morphology for the purpose of defining sustainable morphology through examining the definite features it should possess, and identifying the overlapped scope between morphology and sustainable development. Based on the exact scope, it categorizes relative indicators in the four respective aspects of sustainability respectively drawn from a proven indicator system – SPeAR® developed by Arup. These indicators are simplified to a radar diagram which is succinct, visual and informative to represent the evaluation results. Moreover, this research compares a series of diagrams concerning sustainable buildings and cities to summarize the referencing diagrams of sustainable morphology characteristics which assist to explain the profile of sustainable morphology on scales. Finally, Hong Kong is taken as the test bed for the application of these diagrammatic approaches due to its outstanding performance of high density. The findings of this research can be viewed as a theoretical complement to urban morphology and sustainability assessment research. The diagrammatic assessment approaches can be applied as guidance for sustainability designs in planning and decision-making processes across all areas. In addition, the proposed assessment methodology is not only suitable for evaluating the high-density morphology, but also can be replicated with relevant alterations responding to different circumstances. / published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Philosophy

The urbanization process alters the radiative, thermal, moisture and aerodynamic characteristics of a surface, which significantly affect the surface energy balance within the atmospheric boundary layer. Such modifications can lead to the so-called urban warming phenomenon, where the extent and rate of urban surface and air temperature is substantially higher than the corresponding rural region, which has caused serious concern in recent decades. However, the understanding of the causes of urban warming is incomplete, and the same applies to lack of effective mitigation strategies. Therefore, in order to have a complete understanding of the formation of urban warming, the present thesis focusses on the estimation of temporal variations of urban surface and air temperatures by using numerical simulations, analytical methods and field measurements. To better understand the mechanism(s) of urban surface temperature variation, a three-dimensional model that incorporates the energy exchange processes is first developed for a realistically complex city. In order to reduce the computational effort for the radiation heat transfer calculation, the compressed row storage scheme is applied, which permits the rigorous consideration of multiple reflections in a realistic urban area with hundreds of buildings. The developed surface energy balance model is then used to investigate the effects of the urban canopy geometry on urban albedo and surface temperature. The average urban albedo is less for a moderately compact city having high rise buildings with varying building heights than other cases. A cooler urban street surface temperature with smaller amplitude and earlier occurrence of the daily maximum temperature is observed in a high rise compact city than a low-rise sparse city. In order to understand quantitatively the causes of urban air warming, a new analytical zero-dimensional urban air temperature model is also developed, which is able to capture the features of the urban temperature variation. Results show that solar heat gain, evapotranspiration and the anthropogenic heat affect the mean air temperature, while heat storage and thermal convection affect the amplitude and phase shift of the daily cycle. A high-rise, high-density city generates low surface temperature, resulting in low air temperature during the day. The main conclusion of this study is that on the condition rural air temperature cycle is given, the mean temperature of the urban air and surface temperature is determined by the net heat gain and ventilation rate, and the amplitude and phase can be obtained from thermal storage and ventilation rate. Essentially, the net heat gain, thermal storage and ventilation are affected by urban morphology, and hence a city thermal environment can be designed. (419 words) / published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy