Determination of sustainable urban densities based on a methodology related to solar access: study case of the metropolitan area of Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract

One of the current challenges in terms of design and urban planning involves the transformation of existing cities in models of cities that take care of the environment and improve the quality of life of the inhabitants. Studies indicate that clusters of low population density are the most polluting, (Cepeda y Mardaras, 2004; Norman, Maclean, Asce & Kennedy, 2006) consequently urban densification is one improvement to promote. However, population levels are not unique and standard, but must be found in relation to the characteristics of each urban area. This work has as main objective to develop a methodology of calculation to determine maximum population levels considering the bioclimatic requirements of the city and ensuring more equitable access to sunlight for all the inhabitants of the city. The same is applied in the Metropolitan Area of Mendoza and denotes that the dimensions of the blocks and the width of the streets limit the constructive capacity of the sector and consequently the number of people accommodating. The results obtained indicate that the maximum population densities for the different sectors vary between 49 and 400 inhabitants per hectare, with narrow blocks with narrow streets being the ones with the lowest capacity.