scholarly journals Digital Simulation for Buildings’ Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Urban Neighborhoods

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 541
Author(s):  
Yingyi Zhang ◽  
Chang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Digital Simulation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Urban Neighborhoods ◽  
Parametric Modeling ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Simulation Techniques

Buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort influences environment quality and human behavior in urban neighborhoods. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) has been broadly applied to the study of buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort in urban areas. However, complex environmental conditions in climate-sensitive urban areas can make UTCI assessment complicated and ineffective. This paper introduces digital techniques into buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort analysis for the improvement of the urban habitant environment. A digital simulation system is generated to facilitate the analysis procedure for buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort assessment in urban neighborhoods. The analysis addresses the research question: “Can digital simulation techniques provide a modeling system to assess buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort continuously and effectively?” Methods include a case study of neighborhoods in Beijing, qualitative and quantitative analysis based on digital processes, and parametric modeling. The results indicate that digital simulation techniques and tools have the capability to support the analysis of buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort by providing three-dimensional models, algorithm-based analysis, and visual simulation. The findings include a critique of digital simulation as applied to architecture study and insights on potentially improving buildings’ outdoor thermal comfort through human–computer interactions.

scholarly journals Spatially Resolved Analysis of Urban Thermal Environments Based on a Three-Dimensional Sampling Algorithm and UAV-Based Radiometric Measurements

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4847
Author(s):  
Daniel Rüdisser ◽  
Tobias Weiss ◽  
Lukas Unger
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Global Radiation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Wave Radiation ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Three Dimensional Model ◽  
Spatially Resolved

A new method and workflow to assess outdoor thermal comfort and thermal stress in urban areas is developed. The new methodology is applied to a case of an urban quarter in the city of Graz. The method recognises the significance of detailed and accurate spatially resolved determination of mean radiant temperatures taking into account all relevant radiative components, comprising thermal radiation, as well as global radiation. The method relies on radiometric imaging data that are mapped onto a three-dimensional model. The image data are acquired by means of drones (UAVs) equipped with multispectral and thermographic cameras to capture short- and long-wave radiation. Pre-existing city models and a Monte Carlo raytracing algorithm to perform anisotropic sampling based on a 3D model with human topology are used to determine local radiation temperatures with high spatial resolution. Along with spot measurements carried out on the ground simultaneously, the spatially resolved and three-dimensionally determined mean radiation temperatures are used to calculate thermal comfort indicator maps using UTCI and PMV calculation. Additional ground measurements are further used to validate the detection, as well as the entire evaluation process.

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.

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 Biomimicry-Based Strategies for Urban Heat Island Mitigation: A Numerical Case Study under Tropical Climate

Biomimetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Kevin Araque ◽  
Paola Palacios ◽  
Dafni Mora ◽  
Miguel Chen Austin
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Urban Heat Island ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Heat Island ◽  
Urban Heat ◽  
Historical Heritage ◽  
Pet Index ◽  
Radiant Temperature

In recent years, demographic growth has caused cities to expand their urban areas, increasing the risk of overheating, creating insurmountable microclimatic conditions within the urban area, which is why studies have been carried out on the urban heat island effect (UHI) and its mitigation. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the cooling potential in the application of strategies based on biomimicry for the microclimate in a historical heritage city of Panama. For this, three case studies (base case, case 1, and case 2) of outdoor thermal comfort were evaluated, in which the Envi-met software was used to emulate and evaluate the thermal performance of these strategies during March (highest temperature month) and October (rainier month). The strategies used were extracted from the contrast of zebra skin, human skin, evaporative cooling, and ant skin. The results showed a reduction of 2.8 °C in the air temperature at 11:00, the radiant temperature decreased by 2.2 °C, and the PET index managed to reduce the thermal comfort indicator among its categories. The importance of thinking based on biomimicry in sustainable strategies is concluded; although significant changes were obtained, high risks of discomfort persist due to the layout and proximity of the building.

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 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 Revealing Urban Morphology and Outdoor Comfort through Genetic Algorithm-Driven Urban Block Design in Dry and Hot Regions of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodong Xu ◽  
Chenhuan Yin ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Ning Xu ◽  
Tianzhen Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Urban Morphology ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Actual Case ◽  
Simulation And Optimization ◽  
Hot Climate

In areas with a dry and hot climate, factors such as strong solar radiation, high temperature, low humidity, dazzling light, and dust storms can tremendously reduce people’s thermal comfort. Therefore, researchers are paying more attention to outdoor thermal comfort in urban environments as part of urban design. This study proposed an automatic workflow to optimize urban spatial forms with the aim of improvement of outdoor thermal comfort conditions, characterized by the universal thermal climate index (UTCI). A city with a dry and hot climate—Kashgar, China—is further selected as an actual case study of an urban block and Rhino & Grasshopper is the platform used to conduct simulation and optimization process with the genetic algorithm. Results showed that in summer, the proposed method can reduce the averaged UTCI from 31.17 to 27.43 °C, a decrease of about 3.74 °C, and reduce mean radiation temperature (MRT) from 43.94 to 41.29 °C, a decrease of about 2.65 °C.

scholarly journals Sky View Factors from Synthetic Fisheye Photos for Thermal Comfort Routing—A Case Study in Phoenix, Arizona

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Middel ◽  
Jonas Lukasczyk ◽  
Ross Maciejewski
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Urban Form ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Routing Algorithm ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
View Factor

The Sky View Factor (SVF) is a dimension-reduced representation of urban form and one of the major variables in radiation models that estimate outdoor thermal comfort. Common ways of retrieving SVFs in urban environments include capturing fisheye photographs or creating a digital 3D city or elevation model of the environment. Such techniques have previously been limited due to a lack of imagery or lack of full scale detailed models of urban areas. We developed a web based tool that automatically generates synthetic hemispherical fisheye views from Google Earth at arbitrary spatial resolution and calculates the corresponding SVFs through equiangular projection. SVF results were validated using Google Maps Street View and compared to results from other SVF calculation tools. We generated 5-meter resolution SVF maps for two neighborhoods in Phoenix, Arizona to illustrate fine-scale variations of intra-urban horizon limitations due to urban form and vegetation. To demonstrate the utility of our synthetic fisheye approach for heat stress applications, we automated a radiation model to generate outdoor thermal comfort maps for Arizona State University’s Tempe campus for a hot summer day using synthetic fisheye photos and on-site meteorological data. Model output was tested against mobile transect measurements of the six-directional radiant flux density. Based on the thermal comfort maps, we implemented a pedestrian routing algorithm that is optimized for distance and thermal comfort preferences. Our synthetic fisheye approach can help planners assess urban design and tree planting strategies to maximize thermal comfort outcomes and can support heat hazard mitigation in urban areas.

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