Microclimate Models to Predict the Contribution of Facade Materials to the Canopy Layer Heat Island in Hot-Humid Areas

Abstract

This paper aims to study a microclimate model for predicting the role of façade materials to the Canopy Layer Heat Island. ENVI-met was selected to model the microclimate of four street canyons in Yogyakarta, which vary in façade materials, street orientation, and land cover. Three to four-day field measurements in each canyon were intended to obtain microclimate data at pedestrian level, wind speed and orientation at the boundary layer for simulation input and validation. The validation study confirms the accuracy of ENVI-met simulations in predicting air temperature and relative humidity when the initial wind speed at the boundary layer is > 1.5 m/s. These input data affected on the simulation results. However, the "comparison" feature offers a facility to analyze the modification in the air temperature and mean radiant temperature in the street canyon due to higher thermal transmittance and higher surface albedo façade materials. The results show that street orientation, big trees along the street and sky view factor significantly affect the pattern of air temperature modified by the increasing thermal transmittance and albedo of the façades.

Applications of Models and Tools for Mesoscale and Microscale Thermal Analysis in Mid-Latitude Climate Regions—A Review

“…Accordingly, ENVI-met is used by landscape architects and urban planners as a decision support instrument for urban recommendations in which contemporary demands of climate adaptation and mitigation aspects are considered. ENVI-met has been widely validated through numerous studies under various climate conditions, including temperate climates [75] and more extreme weather conditions [76][77][78]. ENVI-met has also demonstrated a good match with experimental data [79,80].…”