Planning for the environmental quality of urban microclimate: A multiagent-based approach

A growing concern about urban environmental quality has raised over the last decades because of pollution effects on human health and socio-economic systems, particularly caused by urban production mechanisms. Emission reduction policies and new analytical models have been used to face new threats. Now, there is the need to integrate traditional quantitative techniques (statistics, geographic data management etc.) with more complex tools for (single or multiple) urban agents providing the decision makers with a higher-degree support to elaborate effective strategies. This paper shows some outcomes of a research project based on hybrid scenario approach, linking a variety of information and knowledge within different study units through the use of multimodal data for modelling and descriptive purposes (Ringland, 1998; Lindgren and Bandhold, 2003). Each of these scenarios is a virtual space where to test and verify strategic actions; to define sequences of events and focus on random processes and decision outcomes. The work is developed coherently with a general project architecture of an ICT-based Information System to support strategic decisions for the prevention of environmental blight. It gives particular reference to a multi-agent based approach, by analyzing agent-based processes and identifying variables, parameters, indicators usable in relevant system architectures. Reflections are particularly developed around case studies that consider specifically the role, actions and contributions of agents distributed in the domain of social and environmental urbanized contexts. They can be human agents, low-profile artificial (routinary) agents and/or high profile (intelligent) agents, as defined by computer-science and multi-agent studies (Ferber, 1999; Wooldridge, 2002). In dealing with the above subjects, the paper focuses on the case study of Bari, Italy. A particular emphasis is given to the multi-agent-based relationships between urban microclimatic frameworks (heat/cool management, heat islands, air quality, etc..), and the social components of the urban context.