This book introduces Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a vital design tool for architects, urban designers, and planners. In a time defined by climate pressures and urban density, understanding airflow, heat, and pollution is essential for creating liveable, resilient environments. Moving beyond its engineering roots, CFD becomes here a creative, generative instrumenthelping designers visualize how air moves through courtyards and city canyons. The book bridges simulation science with design practice, offering clear explanations of turbulence modelling, mesh generation, and boundary conditions, supported by examples using ANSYS Fluent and ENVI-met tools. Emphasizing accessibility over complexity, it transforms CFD from a technical afterthought into a method for innovation. Through case studies and environmental applications, readers learn to integrate simulation into design thinkingtesting ideas, improving performance, and climate-responsive spaces for a sustainable urban future.
Chapter
1. From Physics to Practice: Core Fundamentals of Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for the Built Environment.
Chapter
2. CFD Theory and
Governing Equations at Building and Urban Scales.
Chapter
3. Numerical
Solution Procedures for the Governing Equations in CFD.
Chapter
4. Wind
Tunnel Testing and Velocity Field Reconstruction for Urban and Building
Applications.
Chapter
5. CFD Software for FluidThermal Simulation: A
Comparative Review for Building and Urban Applications.
Chapter
6. From
Simulation to Design Intelligence: Lessons, Reflections, and Pathways Ahead
for Applied CFD in Architecture and Urbanism.
Jalil SHAERI is a researcher and academic with a specialization in the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to contemporary architecture and urban environmental design. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, where his doctoral work focused on environmental performance modeling and airflow simulation within complex urban and architectural contexts. Over the past decade, Dr. Shaeri has built a multidisciplinary research profile at the intersection of architectural design, urban climatology, and simulation-based performance analysis. His scholarly contributions emphasize the integration of CFD tools into early-stage design processes, the optimization of urban microclimates, and the evaluation of energy-efficient building systems. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is recognized for translating computational methodologies into practical design strategies. His research is characterized by a strong commitment to applicability, methodological rigor, and cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer. This volume reflects his sustained effort to advance simulation-informed design practices within the fields of architecture and urban planning.
Ali CHESHMEHZANGI is a Professor and Head of the School of Architecture, Design and Planning (ADP) at The University of Queensland. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Hunan University. He is the Brisbane Olympics Committee member for Games Legacy and Growth Sub-Committee as well as the Expert member of the 2032 Games led by UQ. He has been in the Worlds top 2 percent field leader since 2021, recognised by Stanford University. He is among the top 20 global scholars in the urban sustainability research area. With a career spanning over two decades, he has made significant contributions to the academic and professional communities, with a focus on sustainable and environmentally conscious design. So far, Ali has published over 500 journal papers, articles, conference papers, book chapters, and reports. He has more than 55 academic books, some of which have received awards at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. He also has received international awards and recognition for his research on urban resilience studies and sustainability research, as well as a 2018 Vice-Chancellors award for his impactful contribution to higher education.
