Sensitivity analysis of building material, ground material, and tree parameters in microclimate simulations
Journal
Urban Climate
Journal Volume
58
Start Page
102184
ISSN
2212-0955
Date Issued
2024-11
Author(s)
DOI
10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102184
Abstract
Understanding urban microclimates is crucial amid rapid urbanization and climate change. Studying these microclimates through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations allows researchers to analyze various urban design scenarios. However, setting up building, ground material, and tree parameters in simulations is essential yet challenging. This study investigates the impact of these three parameter categories using sensitivity analysis to understand their influence on microclimate simulation outputs. We validated ENVI-met's simulation results by comparing them with monitoring data from two sites in Taipei City and analyzed the sensitivity results using box plots with pair-wise comparisons. The findings show that wall reflectivity, ground albedo, leaf area density, and soil moisture significantly impact air and mean radiant temperatures. Soil moisture has the most pronounced effect on air temperature, while reflectivity and albedo significantly affect mean radiant temperature. Additionally, the interactions between parameters require more attention as they complexly affect the simulation outputs. Addressing these factors can enhance the accuracy of microclimate simulations, leading to better-informed urban design decisions. This study highlights these critical factors and provides insights for improving urban microclimate simulations
Subjects
CFD simulation
Parameter setting
Sensitivity analysis
Urban microclimate
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article