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To develop representative meteoclimatic scenarios for enhanced urban climate adaptation and comfort assessment in the Mediterranean arid region, understanding local climate dynamics is essential for sustainable urban development in Mediterranean vulnerable areas. This study presents an innovative methodology for analysing and representing the meteoclimatic conditions of the Adriatic area. We integrate statistical analysis of historical meteorological data (2011 - 2021) with the novel concept of a “Representative Day.” This day was algorithmically selected by minimising hourly deviations from the period mean, thereby creating a realistic daily profile. Importantly, this approach can be applied to any meteorological variable and extended to perceptual indices such as Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) enabling detailed thermal comfort evaluations. Furthermore, this methodology facilitates the generation of prognostic scenarios that are representative of future timelines (e.g. 2030 and 2050) by incorporating climate model projections. This analysis confirms significant warming trends. Representative Day provides a robust synthetic scenario that addresses the uncertainties of long-term averages, offers a reliable basis for high-resolution simulations (microclimate and building performance), and facilitates insightful representations of complex conditions. This refined understanding of typical, extreme, and future conditions is crucial for informing effective climate adaptation strategies, enhancing urban resilience, supporting sustainable building design, and guiding urban planning policies towards decarbonising cities in the Mediterranean context.

Photovoltaic Noise Barriers (PVNB) provide an innovative approach to reducing noise pollution and generating renewable energy along major roadways. Implemented worldwide, PVNBs combine noise mitigation with solar power production, improving the acoustic environment and supporting sustainable energy targets. They enable energy communities through local energy generation and use, fostering independence from central power grids. PVNBs exemplify community-led sustainability, boosting public engagement in renewable energy initiatives. Recent research shows PVNBs lower noise levels significantly while generating electricity without losing acoustic effectiveness. Various designs, like top-mounted, cassette, and zigzag configurations, offer distinct advantages in energy yield and sound reduction. PVNBs produce noise shadows similar to traditional solid barriers while generating considerable renewable energy. The Ascoli Piceno project in Italy, spanning 350 meters, is a key study focused on optimizing both noise reduction and energy generation. This case highlights practical deployment, considering local conditions and infrastructure integration, and demonstrates PVNBs as an effective multi-purpose urban solution for environmental and energy challenges.

Mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a critical challenge for contemporary urban design, impacting thermal comfort and public space usability. Effective mitigation requires understanding human flow dynamics within Local Climate Zones (LCZ), which define urban microclimates. Current analyses are often limited by static methodologies and fragmented datasets. This study introduces City Rhythm, an interactive web-based platform that enables dynamic (hourly/weekly) analysis of inferred human presence, LCZ classification and UHI risk. The platform simultaneously visualises spatiotemporal patterns, allowing users to overlay modelled Presence Points with LCZ and UHI maps, correlating them with inferred demographic and interest data. For example, it can identify peaks in vulnerable populations, like the elderly, in compact LCZ areas during high-risk UHI periods. City Rhythm innovatively explores human-environment interactions through multi-source data integration and dynamic modelling, identifying critical areas of high human presence and UHI risk, analysing user characteristics and providing data-driven strategies for UHI mitigation and enhanced thermal comfort.