MLUCM BEP+BEM: An offline one-dimensional Multi-Layer Urban Canopy Model based on the BEP+BEM Scheme

Pappaccogli, Gianluca; Zonato, Andrea; Martilli, Alberto; Buccolieri, Riccardo; Lionello, Piero

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219

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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219

Preprints

27 Mar 2025

| 27 Mar 2025

Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).

MLUCM BEP+BEM: An offline one-dimensional Multi-Layer Urban Canopy Model based on the BEP+BEM Scheme

Gianluca Pappaccogli, Andrea Zonato, Alberto Martilli, Riccardo Buccolieri, and Piero Lionello

Abstract. The MLUCM BEP+BEM model introduces key innovations in urban microclimate modelling, combining advanced turbulent diffusion schemes with Building Effect Parameterization (BEP) and a Building Energy Model (BEM). Key features include updated turbulent length scales and eddy coefficients accounting for atmospheric stability, as well as the integration of urban vegetation, such as green areas and street trees. This model can be run offline with low computational costs, making it ideal for standalone use, coupling with climate projections, and suitable for running long-term simulations to assess the impacts of different emission scenarios on the urban environment. Validation against data from the Urban-PLUMBER project at a suburban site in Preston (Melbourne, Australia) demonstrates a highly accurate reproduction of shortwave (SW_up), longwave (LW_up) radiation and an accurate reproduction of sensible heat (Q_h) and momentum (Q_tau) fluxes, highlighting the robustness of the model in complex urban environments. Further investigations are required to understand the causes of the unsatisfactory agreement between observed and modelled latent heat flux (Q_le). The versatility of the MLUCM BEP+BEM model enables its application across various climate scenarios for analysing the impact of climate change on urban overheating, energy demands, and for evaluating the effectiveness of strategies like green roofs, cool roofs, and photovoltaic panels.

Received: 22 Jan 2025 – Discussion started: 27 Mar 2025

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Gianluca Pappaccogli, Andrea Zonato, Alberto Martilli, Riccardo Buccolieri, and Piero Lionello

Status: open (until 28 May 2025)

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CEC1:
'Comment on egusphere-2025-219 - No compliance with the policy of the journal', Juan Antonio Añel, 08 Apr 2025 reply

Dear authors,
Unfortunately, after checking your manuscript, it has come to our attention that it does not comply with our "Code and Data Policy".

https://www.geoscientific-model-development.net/policies/code_and_data_policy.html
You have created a repository in Zenodo, but apparently restricted. The Code and Data Availability section in your manuscript reads: "The code of MLUCM BEP+BEM can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14773142 (Pappaccogli, 2025a). The record is publicly accessible, but files are restricted to users with access. The code is made available for the referees."
We must make clear that as our policy clearly states, all the code and data used to produce a manuscript submitted to our journal, must be published openly, and without restrictions, without possibility to be deleted by the authors. Consequently, the situation with your manuscript is irregular, as it should not have been accepted in Discussions or sent out for review due to the mentioned issues.
Therefore, we ask you to create a new repository, containing all the data (input and output) and code necessary to replicate your submitted manuscript, published openly and without restrictions, and to reply to this comment with its information (link and DOI).
I note that if you do not fix this problem in a prompt manner, we will have to reject your manuscript for publication in our journal.
Juan A. Añel
Geosci. Model Dev. Executive Editor

Reply

Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-CEC1
- AC1:
  'Reply on CEC1', Gianluca Pappaccogli, 09 Apr 2025 reply
  
  Dear Dr. Añel,
  Thank you for your message and for your attention to our manuscript.
  We would like to clarify that, following our correspondence with the Review File Validation team, we were informed that they would take care of providing the reviewers with access to the restricted Zenodo link. They also confirmed that the procedure was correct and that our submission was in line with the journal’s requirements at that stage.
  In agreement with both the Review File Validation and Editorial Support teams, the code was made available to the referees via a restricted-access Zenodo repository, and the submission was accordingly validated.
  At this stage, however, the authors are not in a position to release the code publicly. The model represents the outcome of ongoing research and development, and we are concerned that a full and unrestricted release might lead to potential misuse or plagiarism by third parties.
  That said, the authors are fully committed to transparency and reproducibility, and we are happy to share the code openly upon the article’s final publication.
  We remain at your disposal for any further clarification and thank you again for your understanding.
  Kind regards
  Gianluca Pappaccogli
  
  Reply
  
  Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-AC1
  - CEC2: 'Reply on AC1', Juan Antonio Añel, 09 Apr 2025 reply
    
    Dear authors,
    I am sorry that you have been said that not publishing the code in your manuscript was acceptable. I do not know who do it, but they were wrong. Actually, I have reviewed all the communications available in the system about your manuscript, and I have to say that I have not found any communication recorded in it that supports what you state. Maybe they were communications out of the system to private email addresses.
    Anyway, your reply clearly states that not making public the code is your decision, not the result of something imposed to the authors by law. Therefore, we must reject your manuscript for publication in our journal, as we do not publish manuscripts for which the code and data are not published. The journal itself is about publishing models. Also, you have the option to withdraw your manuscript, which I would recommend in this case as the easiest option.
    Juan A. Añel
    Geosci. Model Dev. Executive Editor
    
    Reply
    
    Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-CEC2
    
    AC2: 'Reply on CEC2', Gianluca Pappaccogli, 10 Apr 2025 reply
    
    Dear Dr. Añel,
    Thank you for your message. I must express my deep disappointment with the way the submission process has been handled at various stages by the journal. The procedure has appeared unclear. Regarding the matter of code sharing, I would like to clarify that all correspondence related to this issue was conducted with K. G. In her email dated 31 January 2025, she explicitly confirmed that our submission process, including the way we handled code sharing, was acceptable. Following her instructions, I submitted the code sharing link to the Review File Validation Office. It is now disconcerting to be told that nothing of this is considered official or traceable within the system. It is therefore extremely frustrating to face a rejection based on what appears to be a failure in internal communication.
    Sincerely,
    
    Gianluca Pappaccogli
    
    Reply
    
    Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-AC2
    
    AC3: 'Reply on CEC2', Gianluca Pappaccogli, 11 Apr 2025 reply
    
    Dear Editor,
    We, the authors of the manuscript, have discussed and agreed to make the code publicly available, in accordance with the journal's policy.
    In light of this, we would like to kindly ask whether the review process could be resumed from where it was left, once the code repository has been made accessible.
    Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
    Kind regards,
    Gianluca Pappaccogli
    
    Reply
    
    Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-AC3
    
    CEC3: 'Reply on AC3', Juan Antonio Añel, 14 Apr 2025 reply
    
    Dear authors,
    I can confirm that we can resume the review process if you publish the code. However, I have checked your Zenodo repository again, and it continue to be non public.
    If you publish it, please, reply to this comment making it clear, and with a potential new text for the "Code and Data Availability" section in your manuscript.
    Juan A. Añel
    Geosci. Model Dev. Executive Editor
    
    Reply
    
    Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-CEC3
    
    AC4: 'Reply on CEC3', Gianluca Pappaccogli, 14 Apr 2025 reply
    
    Dear Editor,
    Thank you very much for your message and for your kind support.
    We would like to inform you that the code repository is now publicly available at the following link: https://zenodo.org/records/14773142
    
    Could you kindly confirm that everything is now in order from your side?
    Additionally, since the manuscript is already online, we would appreciate your guidance on how to update the text in the “Code and Data Availability” section accordingly.
    Thank you again for your attention and support.
    Kind regards,
    Gianluca Pappaccogli
    
    Reply
    
    Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-AC4
    
    CEC4: 'Reply on AC4', Juan Antonio Añel, 14 Apr 2025 reply
    
    Dear authors,
    Many thanks for sharing the repository. I have checked the code deposited there, and I think we can continue now that it is available and anyone can check it and comment on it, we can continue with the review process. Regarding the modified text for the "Code and Data Availability" section in your manuscript, you can not change it at this stage. If you want, you can reply to this comment with it. Otherwise, if eventually your manuscript is considered for a new round of reviews or accepted for publication, you will have the opportunity to modify such section in a new version to be uploaded.
    Juan A. Añel
    Geosci. Model Dev. Executive Editor
    
    Reply
    
    Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-219-CEC4

Gianluca Pappaccogli, Andrea Zonato, Alberto Martilli, Riccardo Buccolieri, and Piero Lionello

Data sets

MLUCM BEP+BEM: An offline one-dimensional Multi-Layer Urban Canopy Model based on the BEP+BEM Scheme Gianluca Pappaccogli https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14716595

Gianluca Pappaccogli, Andrea Zonato, Alberto Martilli, Riccardo Buccolieri, and Piero Lionello

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Short summary

We present the MLUCM BEP+BEM model that bridges mesoscale and microscale phenomena within the urban canopy, capturing scale interactions and feedback. The accuracy and low computational cost of this one-dimensional model makes it ideal for offline climate projections to assess urban climate impacts under different emission scenarios. The model's features allow analyzing urban overheating, energy demands, and evaluating the efficiency of strategies like green/cool roofs, and photovoltaic panels.


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