- Bridging Urban Morphology and Energy Performance Analysis. A Case Study within the Alpine Region    990 kb by    Vettorato, Daniele | daniele.vettorato@ing.unitn.it    Short Outline The size, scale, shape and internal structures of cities are important factors determining their sustainability levels. This consideration is even more important if we consider the energy issue. Abstract The size, scale, shape and internal structures of cities are important factors determining their sustainability levels (Batty, 2008). This observation is even more important if we consider the energy issue (Dreoge 2007, 2008; Owens, 1986). The paper presents the application of an analytical method that aims to identify critical and virtuous zones from the point of view of the sustainable energy performance of urban areas. The method based on urban form and structure analysis and uses in input innovative remote sensed data sources (i.e. LiDAR) as well as advanced GIS (3D analysis) and statistical and ranking methods. The output is the classification and benchmarking of homogeneous urban areas from the sustainable energy point of view. The case study is located northern Italy in a land with complex morphology, the Alps. In particular the test of the method considered a wide area, at different scales, including a compact city (Trento) and a surrounding diffused urban settlement system (Adige Valley). The contribution presents the background concerning the introduction of the sustainable energy concept at the urban and regional scales, the method including considerations on the intra-scale relationships, the used dataset and tools, concluding with the presentation of the results of the test to the case study. The output of the research is finally discussed in the framework of urban energy renewal (urban “renerwal”) and integration in the traditional planning practices. Keywords urban morphology, sustainable energy, performance, GIS, benchmark Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2011: LIVEABLE CITIES: URBANISING WORLD, Meeting the Challenge   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper