The hazardous sub-micron particulate matter (PM2.5) that goes deep in to the respiratory system causes significant threat to the life expectancy of humans. The atmospheric wind and the diurnal dry bulb temperature are the main factors which govern the pollutant dispersion. This work quantifies the wind assisted deposition of PM2.5 and the natural atmospheric cleansing by a massive green façade drape. The proposed leaf foliage covers the entire South and the West facing walls of a six storied built structure (Visvesvaraya Block) at SAINTGITS, a prominent Technological Institution at Kottayam, Kerala State, India. Whilst the south blowing winds assist the deposition of PM2.5 on to the façade foliage, the removal rate of the pollutants is directly proportional to the stomata opening and the humidity. This case study clearly depicts the natural capability of green façade retrofits to cleanse the atmosphere, thus helps to attain one of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UN.
The arrangement of natural and physical features on the earth's surface are a few among the countless items that govern the airborne acoustic transmission at boundary layers. In particular, if the acoustic waves are attributes of live concerts at open-air theatres, without losing the sheen and quality, the audience should certainly receive the unbroken depth of the performance. Hence, at all times, it is advisable to analyse the auditory receptiveness, particularly in all intended recreational spaces. The current pandemic circumstances and the mandated COVID-19 prevention protocols encourage gatherings in naturally ventilated outdoor regions than confined indoors. This work predicts and quantifies the acoustic experience at the naturally carved amphitheatre at SAINTGITS, an autonomous institution at the down South-West of the Indian Subcontinent. The entire recreational space at SAINTGITS AMPHI was separately modelled as a Base case and Advanced case, and were analysed using the acoustic modelling module of EASE Focus, a renowned simulation freeware, which is in strict adherence with the International standards. The variation in loudness received at the nearest and farthest ends of the amphitheatre was between 67 to 80 dB. Though the Zero frequency SPL (Z-weighting) exhibited the loudness in the range of 81 to 85 dB and could maintain a safer auditory level for any human ear, it was confined to a hemispherical region near the sound source. A vertical beam angle of −4.0°was found to be effective throughout. The procedures and analyses will certainly help the future organizers and stakeholders to effectively plan the resources to reap rich acoustic experience at terrain-centric locales. The surface topography and contours were plotted with another set of freeware, the CADMAPPER and the QUIKGRID, to compare terrain gradient with the known data. Furthermore, this interdisciplinary research exhibits the extensive simulation capability of both EASE Focus and QUIKGRID and demonstrates the modelling versatility and deliverable potential of these freeware to benefit the budding architects and researchers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.