Urban Wind Field Mapping Technique for Municipal Environmental Planning: A Case Study of Cheongju-Si, Korea

Abstract

The integrated management of land and environmental plans (EPs) has been a key direction of sustainable policy in Korea. Although local EPs should be established based on spatial data, much of the pertinent environmental information has not been mapped. Accordingly, we develop a wind field mapping technique for establishing local EPs. This method was developed via a numerical weather prediction model (Weather Research and Forecast—WRF), and a diagnostic meteorological model (California Meteorological model—CALMET), based on weather observation data, as well as terrain and land cover data. The developed method was applied to a case study in Cheongju-si, Korea, for verifying its effectiveness. The created wind field maps of Cheongju-si provided an intuitive visual representation of the spatial distribution of seasonal and daytime/nighttime wind patterns. Such data helped understand the directionality and patterns of winds blowing into a city, or identify stagnant areas of wind circulation. Overlaying the wind field map with maps of air pollutant emissions revealed that pollutants from industrial areas could flow along the prevailing winds into residential areas downtown. These maps also implied that open spaces, such as parks and grasslands, were recommendable for stagnant areas, instead of creating industrial complexes or residential areas.