Effects of Urban Geometry on Mean Radiant Temperature

Kevin Ka Lun Lau, Zheng Tan, Tobi Eniolu Morakinyo, Chao Ren

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingChapter in an edited book (as author)Academic researchpeer-review

Abstract

Outdoor thermal comfort has been a widely concerned issue in tropical and sub-tropical cities. In order to assess the conditions of outdoor thermal comfort, quantitative information on different spatial and temporal scales is required. The study in this chapter employs a numerical model to examine the spatial and temporal variations of mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), as an indicator of radiant heat load and outdoor heat stress in high-density sub-tropical urban environment in summer. The SOLWEIG model is found to simulate the six-directional shortwave and longwave radiation fluxes as well as Tmrt very well. Simulation results show that urban geometry plays an important role in intra-urban differences in summer daytime Tmrt. Open areas are generally warmer than surrounding narrow street canyons. Street canyons are sheltered from incoming direct solar radiation by shading of buildings, while open areas are exposed to intense solar radiation, especially along the sunlit walls where high Tmrt is observed due to reflected shortwave radiation and longwave radiation emitted from the sunlit building walls. The present study confirms that there are great potential in using urban geometry to mitigate high radiant heat load and daytime heat stress in the compacted urban environment. In high-density sub-tropical cities where high daytime Tmrt causes severe thermal discomfort in summer, dense urban structures are able to mitigate the extremely high Tmrt and improve outdoor thermal comfort. However, the shading strategy has to be cautious about air ventilation in such a dense urban environment.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSpringerBriefs in Architectural Design and Technology
PublisherSpringer
Pages69-83
Number of pages15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

Publication series

NameSpringerBriefs in Architectural Design and Technology
ISSN (Print)2199-580X
ISSN (Electronic)2199-5818

Keywords

  • High-density
  • Mean radiant temperature
  • Radiant heat load
  • SOLWEIG
  • Sub-tropical

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Architecture
  • Building and Construction
  • Modelling and Simulation
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

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