The impact of sky-building view factor on urban thermal–atmospheric environmental qualities via ENVI-met simulation

Urban thermal environment and air quality critically affect resident health. Rational design can mitigate these issues. Using ENVI-met, this study simulated Chongqing, investigating thermal–atmospheric environmental quality (TAEQ) via street layout and vegetation changes. Among 12 scenarios (4 orientations × 3 tree species), north–south-oriented streets remained cooler in summer and winter afternoons; warmer areas were southwest (summer) and north (winter). Traffic emissions were the primary pollution driver, while street trees altered wind flow, affecting PM 2.5 dispersion. Physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) positively correlated with sky-building view factor (S B VF). The strongest variation occurred on northeast–southwest-oriented streets with Ficus microcarpa : each 0.1 S B VF increase raised PET by 1.81 °C. Conversely, PM 2.5 concentration (PM 2.5 C) negatively correlated with S B VF. On northwest–southeast-oriented streets, each 0.1 S B VF increase reduced PM 2.5 C by 9.8 μg/m 3 . These findings inform future urban design. Planners and architects can improve street meteorology and air quality by adjusting street orientation and geometry.