Doctoral Thesis

Working Title:
Working title at DLGS: A multi-scale assessment of heat stress vulnerability, urban green space accessibility and impact of tree species diversity on climate adaptation: Case of Dehradun, India

Supervisor:
Supervisor at DLGS: Prof. Dr. Ing Wolfgang Wende, Technische Universität Dresden

Main Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ing Stephan Pauleit, Technische Universität München

Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ing Lutz Katzschner, Institut für Klima und Energiekonzepte, Kassel

IOER Research area:
Research Area Landscape, Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Abstract:
The liveability of outdoor spaces and the well-being of the urban population are threatened by the increasing heat stress in urban areas. There is a consensus that urban green infrastructure (UGI) can mitigate heat stress and enhance outdoor thermal comfort (OTC). However, UGI-based climate adaptation is largely unexplored in humid subtropical climates. A multi-scale and multi-step inquiry into heat stress vulnerability and the role of UGI in mitigating it is, therefore, a critical step towards climate adaptation.

Taking the case of the city of Dehradun, India, the research proposes to first inquire into the citywide relationship between UGI accessibility and heat stress vulnerability. It further investigates the role of UGI in neighbourhood-level climate adaptation. Since the social perception of UGI, especially in relation to holistic OTC assessment, is underrepresented globally, this study incorporates a mixed-methods approach to investigate the relationship between urban vegetation dynamics and overall thermal comfort perception. The perceptions and preferences related to outdoor thermal comfort and subsequent UGI preferences would be explored through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Based on the perceptions and preferences of residents, different greening scenarios would be set up to quantify the outdoor thermal comfort benefits of UGI using the microclimatic modelling software ENVI-met.

The study will render both methodological and scientific outcomes. The methodological design intends to transition climate adaptation from an environmental perspective to a socio-environmental lens of inquiry. Wherein the scientific findings shall support practical interventions for green infrastructure-based outdoor thermal comfort optimisation in similar urban and climatic contexts.

CV

Education

Since 11/2022

Visiting Doctoral candidate, Dresden Leibniz Graduate School, The Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), Dresden, Germany
Research Exchange

Since 10/2018

Doctoral candidate, Technical University of Munich, Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, Germany

07/2014-05/2016

Studies in Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Academic Degree: Master in Architecture

09/2015-03/2016

Studies in Architecture, Technical University of Munich, Chair of Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design, Germany
Academic Exchange

07/2008-05/2013

Studies in Architecture, Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, AMU, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
Academic Degree: Bachelor in Architecture

Experiences

Since 10/2019

Teaching and research assistant, Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Since 10/2018

Adjunct researcher, Centre for Ecology Development & Research (CEDAR), Dehradun, India

06/2016-05/2018

Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning & Design, DIT University, Dehradun, India

05/2015-07/2015

Trainee Architect, Centre for Research on Sustainable Building Science, The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India

01/2013-07/2014

Architect (Design Team), Design Forum International, New Delhi, India

06/2011-07/2011

Trainee Architect, Point Architects, Lucknow, India

01/2010

Intern (Art Direction and Set Designing), Film and Television Institute of India, Pune

Awards

06/2018-09/2022

DAAD research grant for doctoral studies at Technical University of Munich, Germany

09/2015-03/2016

DAAD KOSPIE scholarship for research exchange at Technical University of Munich, Germany

07/2014-05/2016

MHRD-GATE scholarship for post-graduate studies from Ministry of Human Resources & Development, Government of India

01/2013

Excellence award for Optimum space design for Bachelors thesis project by Pidilite, India

Publications

Magazine article

Erlwein S. and Javaid S. 2021. A tale of two cities: Cooling by urban green infrastructure in Munich and Dehradun. Nodium 13 (2021). ISBN 978-3-948278-23-6 (Both first authors)

Javaid, S. and Mukherjee, M. 2016. Effect of built form and vegetation on indoor and outdoor thermal comfort. Industrial Angles

Journal article

Habeeb R. and Javaid S. 2019. Social inclusion of marginal in the great climate change debate: Case of slums in Dehradun, India. Sage Social Open, London UK. DOI: 10.1177/2158244019835924

Book chapter and conference proceedings

Habeeb R. and Javaid S. 2019. Chapter-20: Using GIS interpolation technique to assess urban air quality and evolve remediation strategies. In AS. Gautam, T. Kandari (Eds), Advancement in Basic & Applied Sciences - Proceedings of International Conference on Aerosols, Air Quality and Climate Change on Himalayan Region of Uttarakhand. ISBN 9789384866907

Javaid S. and Habeeb R. 2018. Participatory planning in urban green spaces: A step towards environmental and social equity. 6th National Seminar on Architecture for Masses on Environmental Remediation and Rejuvenation, JMI, India, February, 2018. ISBN 9788192031514

Javaid S. and Habeeb R. 2018. Futuristic urbanism: Socio-environmental regeneration through vertical greening. International Conference on Futuristic Trends in Architecture, SAP, Sharda University, India, September, 2017. ISBN 93-86754-13-4