The effect of different tree configurations on heat stress in courtyards

Among the major urban cooling strategies, urban morphological changes and increasing greenery coverage have proven effective in mitigating heat stress. One building type that has been used for centuries in hot and arid climates is the courtyard typology as it can create comfortable thermal conditions. However, little is known about the climate...

Microclimate Analysis of the TU Delft Campus

With the Urban Heat Island Effect on the rise and 66% of the global population expected to live in the cities by 2050, new ways of building for this urban growth need to be researched. In this report the cooling effects of green and water structures on urban landscapes are examined. To realize this, we opted to recreate a 3D model of the chosen...

Linking cooling by nature and urban drought reduction to irrigation measures: Tackling the urban heat island and droughts simultaneously

To reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect Green Infrastructure (GI) is seen as a key measure. Though, often the need for water to evaporate is neglected. This study focuses on showing the effects of irrigation and increased soil moisture contents on GI within urban areas to reduce the UHI-effect. ENVI-met, a micro-climate model, is used to...

BIM and 3D City Models as Input for Microclimate Simulation

Climate change, and the effect it has on our lives and the world, has been at the centre of debate in the past decades. Also in architecture and urban planning fields, the effect of climate on buildings and cities has always had a role in the design process, nowadays especially when it comes to sustainability related topics. An interesting...

Green facades for cooling urban hot spots: The cooling effectivity of green facades on spaces adjacent to and inside dwellings in Amsterdam

To limit increasing heat problems in cities, green areas are being implemented in the urban context. Since space is often scarce, an opportunity lies in the use of green facades. This research has investigated the cooling effect of natural green facades in the form of He¬dera helix. Both the effect on thermal comfort inside and outside buildings...

Bioreceptive facade design: Improving the harsh urban climates

Bioreceptivity in building envelopes is a new type of facade greening system which thrives to improve the urban climate. In this type of facade greening the building envelope acts as a mediating layer between indoor and external conditions. This research focuses on the impact of the implementation of bioreceptive facade panels in the urban...

The use of digital models in microclimatic studies : First steps in coupling CityGML with ENVI-met

In recent years, the need to reduce the global warming of the planet has become more imperative than ever. Global warming and, at local scale, Urban Heat Island phenomena are among the primary effects of the increased building carbon emissions. Nevertheless, understanding and controlling the parameters which intensify, or mitigate, the...