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

Gabriele Lobaccaro, Koen De Ridder, Juan Angel Acero, Hans Hooyberghs, Dirk Lauwaet, Bino Maiheu, Richa Sharma and Benjamin Govehovitch
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Gabriele Lobaccaro: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Koen De Ridder: Flemish Institute for Technological Research, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Juan Angel Acero: TECNALIA, Energy and Environmental Division, Parque Tecnologico de Bizkaia, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Spain
Hans Hooyberghs: Flemish Institute for Technological Research, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Dirk Lauwaet: Flemish Institute for Technological Research, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Bino Maiheu: Flanders Environment Agency (VMM), Koning Albert-II-laan 20 bus 16, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Richa Sharma: Centre for Environmental Health, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Gurugram 500033, India
Benjamin Govehovitch: The Centre for Thermal and Energy Science of Lyon (CETHIL), University Claude Bernard Lyon I, 69622 Villeurbanne, France

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-33

Abstract: Urban analysis at different spatial scales (micro- and mesoscale) of local climate conditions is required to test typical artificial urban boundaries and related climate hazards such as high temperatures in built environments. The multitude of finishing materials and sheltering objects within built environments produce distinct patterns of different climate conditions, particularly during the daytime. The combination of high temperatures and intense solar radiation strongly perturb the environment by increasing the thermal heat stress at the pedestrian level. Therefore, it is becoming common practice to use numerical models and tools that enable multiple design and planning alternatives to be quantitatively and qualitatively tested to inform urban planners and decision-makers. These models and tools can be used to compare the relationships between the micro-climatic environment, the subjective thermal assessment, and the social behaviour, which can reveal the attractiveness and effectiveness of new urban spaces and lead to more sustainable and liveable public spaces. This review article presents the applications of selected environmental numerical models and tools to predict human thermal stress at the mesoscale (e.g., satellite thermal images and UrbClim) and the microscale (e.g., mobile measurements, ENVI-met, and UrbClim HR) focusing on case study cities in mid-latitude climate regions framed in two European research projects.

Keywords: heatwave; urban heat island; mesoscale; microscale; microclimate modelling; thermal stress; Antwerp; Bilbao; Paris; Rome; Montpellier; Delhi; mid-latitude climate regions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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