Urban microclimatic diversity and thermal comfort

Do variations in sun and wind conditions correlate with PET grades?

Conference paper (2020)

Authors

Zhikai Peng University of Cambridge
Koen Steemers University of Cambridge
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Urban form Dynamic simulation Microclimatic diversity assessment
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

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Abstract

Urban microclimatic diversity is of significance to understanding outdoor thermal satisfaction, as it offers a degree of freedom of choice for comfort seeking behaviour, thermal stimulation and potential alliesthesia. The existing assessment of thermal diversity has shown a strong relation to urban 3D geometry. A new workflow is proposed based on previous methods for strengthening the reliability in mapping urban microclimatic diversity. Two new indicators, the gross sun-wind diversity (D%) and the net diversity (d%) have been tested in three urban district models via Envi-MET simulation. The results are segmented by 9 grades of physiological equivalent temperature (PET), showing the value of including the range and variety of thermal sensations in the assessment of urban comfort. The preliminary findings point to a stronger link between microclimatic diversity and thermal neutrality in transitional seasons than in summer or winter.