An Estimation of the Anthropogenic Heat Emissions in Darwin City Using Urban Microclimate Simulations

Shehani Rajapaksha, Raphael Chukwuka Nnachi, Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, Anne W. M. Ng, Malik Muneeb Abid, Paras Sidiqui, Muhammad Farooq Rais, Erum Aamir, Luis Herrera Diaz, Saeed Kimiaei and Hooman Mehdizadeh-Rad
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Shehani Rajapaksha: College of Engineering, Information Technology and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Brinkin, NT 0810, Australia
Raphael Chukwuka Nnachi: Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Abakaliki P.M.B. 1010, Nigeria
Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq: College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia
Anne W. M. Ng: College of Engineering, Information Technology and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Brinkin, NT 0810, Australia
Malik Muneeb Abid: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan
Paras Sidiqui: Live + Smart Research Laboratory, School of Architecture & Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Muhammad Farooq Rais: Cosmos Science Corporation, 5 Sagar Road, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 54810, Pakistan
Erum Aamir: Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering SCEE, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Luis Herrera Diaz: College of Engineering, Information Technology and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Brinkin, NT 0810, Australia
Saeed Kimiaei: School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11365, Iran
Hooman Mehdizadeh-Rad: College of Engineering, Information Technology and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Brinkin, NT 0810, Australia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: The energy consumption due to urbanization and man-made activities has resulted in production of waste, heat, and pollution in the urban environment. These have further resulted in undesirable environmental issues such as the production of excessive Anthropogenic Heat Emissions (AHE), thus leading to an increased Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The aim of this study was to estimate the total AHE based on the contribution of three major sources of waste heat generation in an urban environment, i.e., buildings, vehicular traffic, and human metabolism. Furthermore, a comparison of dominating anthropogenic heat factor of Darwin with that of other major international cities was carried out. Field measurements of microclimate (temperatures, humidity, solar radiation, and other factors of climate measures) were conducted along Smith Street, Darwin City. Then, surveys were conducted to collect information regarding the buildings, vehicle traffic and Human population (metabolism) in the study area. Each individual component of AHE was calculated based on a conceptual framework of the anthropogenic heat model developed within this study. The results showed that AHE from buildings is the most dominant factor influencing the total AHE in Darwin, contributing to about 87% to 95% of total AHE. This is followed by vehicular traffic (4–13%) and lastly, human metabolism (0.1–0.8%). The study also shows that Darwin gains an average of 990 Wm −2 solar power on a peak day. This study proves that building anthropogenic heat is the major dominating factor influencing the UHI in tropical urban climates.

Keywords: anthropogenic heat emission; microclimate; urban heat island; tropical urban climate; heat energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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