scholarly journals Development and initial tests of an urban comfort monitoring system

2021 ◽  
Vol 2042 (1) ◽  
pp. 012051
Author(s):  
Giacomo Chiesa ◽  
Luo Yingjun ◽  
Sheng Yuxuan ◽  
Wang Guoxin ◽  
Zhang Bolun
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Outdoor Comfort ◽  
Early Testing ◽  
Cost Measurement ◽  
Radiant Temperature ◽  
Comfort Indices

Abstract The paper presents a newly developed low-cost measurement system for outdoor comfort monitoring. The solution is based on IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and is cloud-connected. The system is able to collect physical environment data, and includes a movable GPS monitoring station as well as the subjective thermal sensation of pedestrians via a devoted app. The cloud interface promptly elaborates the received data to calculate outdoor thermal comfort indices such as UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index), MRT (mean radiant temperature), and ET (effective temperature). The system is conceived for supporting both fixed and traveling measurements, and to support correlation studies between monitored environmental variables and personal comfort sensations to promote the local adaptation of comfort indices. Results from early testing are also reported.

scholarly journals Parametric Design and Comfort Optimization of Dynamic Shading Structures

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7670
Author(s):  
Doris A. Chi ◽  
Edwin González M. ◽  
Renato Valdivia ◽  
Eduardo Gutiérrez J.
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Parametric Design ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Parametric Modelling ◽  
The Social ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Dynamic Time

This work implements parametric tools to optimize the environmental design of urban adaptive shadings through multiobjective evolutionary algorithms that look for solutions of dynamic (time-changing) structures used in open public spaces. The proposal is located in Malecon Cancun Tajamar in the southeast part of Mexico, and the main objective is to enhance the thermal comfort of users as well as to become part of the social dynamics of the place reinforcing identity through appropriation. The proposed workflow includes four steps: (1) geometric modelling by parametric modelling tools; (2) simulation of environmental parameters by using BPS tools; (3) shape optimization by using an evolutionary algorithm; and (4) environmental verification of the results. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used to assess the outdoor thermal comfort derived from the dynamic shadings. The results showed a significant improvement in the thermal comfort with absolute UTCI differences of 3.9, 7.4, and 3.1 °C at 8, 12, and 16 h, respectively, during the summer; and absolute differences of 1.4, 3.5, and 2 °C at 8, 12, and 16 h, respectively, during the winter. The proposed workflow can help to guide the early design process of dynamic shadings by finding optimal solutions that enhance outdoor thermal comfort.

scholarly journals Microclimate Analysis as a Design Driver of Architecture

Climate ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Graham ◽  
Umberto Berardi ◽  
Geoffrey Turnbull ◽  
Robert McKaye
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Design Office ◽  
Scope Project ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Design Options ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

In the context of global climate change, it is increasingly important for architects to understand the effects of their interventions on indoor and outdoor thermal comfort. New microclimate analysis tools which are gaining appreciation among architects enable the assessment of different design options in terms of biometeorological parameters, such as the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and the Outdoor Thermal Comfort Autonomy. This paper reflects on some recent experiences of an architectural design office attempting to incorporate local climatic considerations as a design driver in projects. The investigation shows that most of the available tools for advanced climatic modelling have been developed for research purposes and are not optimized for architectural and urban design; consequently, they require adaptations and modifications to extend their functionality or to achieve interoperability with software commonly used by architects. For this scope, project-specific Python scripts used to extract design-consequential information from simulation results, as well as to construct meteorological boundary conditions for microclimate simulations, are presented. This study describes the obstacles encountered while implementing microclimate analysis in an architectural office and the measures taken to overcome them. Finally, the benefits of this form of analysis are discussed.

scholarly journals Thermal Perception in the Mediterranean Area: Comparing the Mediterranean Outdoor Comfort Index (MOCI) to Other Outdoor Thermal Comfort Indices

Energies ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iacopo Golasi ◽  
Ferdinando Salata ◽  
Emanuele de Lieto Vollaro ◽  
Massimo Coppi ◽  
Andrea de Lieto Vollaro
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Perception ◽  
Comfort Index ◽  
Outdoor Comfort ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Comfort Indices

scholarly journals Outdoor Thermal Comfort at a University Campus: Studies from Personal and Long-Term Thermal History Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9284
Author(s):  
Jiao Xue ◽  
Xiao Hu ◽  
Shu Nuke Sani ◽  
Yuanyuan Wu ◽  
Xinyu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal History ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Winter Climate

Thermally comfortable outdoor spaces have contributed to high-quality urban living. In order to provide a further understanding of the influences of gender and long-term thermal history on outdoor thermal comfort, this study conducted field surveys at a university campus in Shanghai, China by carrying out microclimatic monitoring and subjective questionnaires from May to October, 2019. The analysis of collected data found that, during our survey, 57% of the occupants felt comfortable overall and 40–60% of them perceived the microclimate variables (air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed) as “neutral”. The universal thermal climate index (UTCI) provided a better correlation with occupant thermal sensation than the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET). Females were more sensitive to the outdoor thermal environment than males. Older age led to lower thermal sensation, but the thermal sensitivities for age groups of <20, 20–50, and >50 were similar. Occupants who had resided in Shanghai for a longer period showed higher overall comfort rating and lower thermal sensation. Interviewees who came from hot summer and cold winter climate regions were less effected by the change of UTCI than those from severe cold or cold climate regions.

scholarly journals Intraurban Temperature Variations: Urban Morphologies of the Densification Process of Copacabana Neighborhood, Brazil

Climate ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele S. Barbosa ◽  
Patricia R. C. Drach ◽  
Oscar D. Corbella
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Urban Morphology ◽  
View Factor ◽  
Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽  
Urban Models ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
Outdoor Comfort ◽  
City Model ◽  
The Tropics

The idea of compact cities is attracting enthusiasts, and some have proposed sustainable options for its implementation. This concept is based on planning for higher density cities with efficient connectivity in their structures. Because climatic characteristics are one of the basic factors to consider when planning a town, the models imported from different climates of Brazil must be intensely scrutinized and analyzed for their adequacy and effectiveness. Previous studies have revealed the inadequacy of the compact city model for tropical countries. In this study, the Copacabana neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, a city that is currently compact, was assessed using computational tools (ENVI-met) to observe the intraurban temperature dynamics and sky view factor (SVF) alterations at three time-points’ unit occupation history: 1930, 1950, and 2018. To determine the effects of morphological changes on thermal sensation, two outdoor comfort indexes were calculated: the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and the universal thermal climate (UTCI). From the obtained results, the relationship between urban morphology, air temperature, and thermal comfort indicates that the debate about urban models will be heightened, particularly with regard to the concept of compact cities in the formation of new cities and neighborhoods in the tropics.

Applicable Correlations Based on Field Survey and Theory for Predicting the Indoor Thermal Climate

2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 2819-2822
Author(s):  
Fen E Hu ◽  
Fan Wang ◽  
Neng Bang Hou ◽  
Fei Xiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Newton’S Iterative Method ◽  
Diffuse Solar Radiation ◽  
Thermal Climate ◽  
One Year ◽  
Radiant Temperature

Fanger’s PMV is the most famous thermal sensation index but it is too complex to be applied in practice. Besides, the PMV index does not take into account the effect of the hourly beam and diffuse solar radiation absorbed by the room on the indoor thermal climate. In order to obtain applicable correlations with consideration of solar radiation, a one-year measurement has been carried out in a naturally ventilated residential room in Qujing Normal University of Yunnan province, China. Based on collected data, PMV indices are calculated by using Newton’s iterative method. The correlations of the PMV and the environmental parameters — outdoor air temperature, indoor mean air temperature, mean radiant temperature, wind velocity, relative humidity, and hourly beam and diffuse solar radiation — have been studied by using the multivariable regression techniques. Lots of correlations with high correlativity have been developed in this paper. It is convenient to use these results to predict the indoor thermal climate in the natural ventilation buildings in the subtropical plateau monsoon climate.

scholarly journals Building Configuration of Low-Cost Apartments in Bandung—Its Contribution to the Microclimate and Outdoor Thermal Comfort

Buildings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beta Paramita ◽  
Hiroatsu Fukuda ◽  
Rendy Perdana Khidmat ◽  
Andreas Matzarakis
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Hot Humid Climate ◽  
Radiant Temperature ◽  
Building Form

This paper aims to find the microclimate aspect within the building form and configuration of five low-cost apartments (henceforth rusun) in Bandung, Indonesia. There are parallel, square, and interspersed plots investigated with specific discussion on the microclimate aspects that gain human perception of outdoor thermal comfort. The microclimate prognostic model, i.e., ENVI-met, was used to determine the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), which was then used to describe the living quality of outdoor thermal comfort, i.e., PET (physiologically equivalent temperature) in a hot-humid climate context. A parallel plot with building orientation toward north-south was found as the most beneficial building form and configuration. Somehow, the parallel plot toward the west-east orientation did not provide similar performance. Nevertheless, the square plot provided uncomfortable perception as there was an absence of building shade within the wide open space and ground cover to absorb the insolation. The interspersed plot can be considered for the building configuration because it generates more wind among other plots. The building form and configuration of rusun with passive design seems to not be able to achieve outdoor thermal comfort. The highest PET value of Model D with the square plot had PET = 41 °C (hot) while the lowest PET in Model A with the parallel plot (N-S) had PET = 34.2 °C (slightly warm).

scholarly journals Outdoor Thermal Comfort of Urban Park—A Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Zhang ◽  
Dong Wei ◽  
Yuyao Hou ◽  
Junfei Du ◽  
Zu’an Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Urban Parks ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Physiological Equivalent Temperature ◽  
Different Types

Urban parks are an important component of urban public green space and a public place where a large number of urban residents choose to conduct outdoor activities. An important factor attracting people to visit and stay in urban parks is its outdoor thermal comfort, which is also an important criterion for evaluating the liability of the urban environment. In this study, through field meteorological monitoring and a questionnaire survey, outdoor thermal comfort of different types of landscape space in urban parks in Chengdu, China was studied in winter and summer. Result indicated that (1) different types of landscape spaces have different thermal comforts, (2) air temperature is the most important factor affecting outdoor thermal comfort; (3) because the thermal sensation judgment of outdoor thermal comfort research in Chengdu area, an ASHRAE seven-sites scale can be used; (4) the neutral temperature ranges of Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in Chengdu in winter and summer were obtained through research; (5) and UTCI is the best index for evaluating outdoor thermal comfort in Chengdu. These findings provide theoretical benchmarks and technical references for urban planners and landscape designers to optimize outdoor thermal comfort in urban areas to establish a more comfortable and healthy living environment for urban residents.

Comparison of thermal comfort in different kinds of building spaces: Field study in Guangzhou, China

2021 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2098171
Author(s):  
Peihao Wu ◽  
Yuchun Zhang ◽  
Zhaosong Fang ◽  
Yafeng Gao
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Thermal Indices ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Outdoor Spaces ◽  
Transitional Spaces ◽  
Outdoor Space ◽  
Radiant Temperature ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

In addition to typical indoor and outdoor spaces, there are numerous transitional spaces in a building that are unlike indoor and outdoor spaces, where most people spend time for entertainment. There is a need to investigate the comparison between these three types of spaces, including indoor spaces, transitional spaces and outdoor spaces. In this study, the thermal responses and thermal environmental parameters of the indoor, outdoor and transitional spaces were simultaneously recorded. Values of standard effective temperature (SET*), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and universal thermal climate index (UTCI) were calculated, and relationships between mean thermal sensation vote (MTSV), SET*, PET and UTCI were also analysed. The results indicate that the air velocity fluctuation and mean radiant temperature of the outdoor space were more significant than those of other two spaces. The neutral thermal indices of the outdoor space were higher than those of the indoor and transitional spaces. Additionally, regression models between MTSV and thermal indices (SET*, PET and UTCI) were analysed. There are strong linear relationships between MTSV and SET* in all spaces. The linear relationships between MTSV were significant when compared with PET and UTCI. Thus, the adaption of thermal indices for evaluation of different spaces must be considered.

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