The urban near surface atmosphere is of great concern since it affects the climate to which an increasing amount of people are immediately exposed. This study investigated the microclimate in central Stockholm in terms of the thermal conditions in the 0-2.5 m air layer and the water and heat exchange processes at different types of surfaces found within the urban environment. The main objective was to improve our understanding of the urban small-scale climate system. The urban microclimate was measured in terms of vertical air temperature profiles along a horizontal transect running through a vegetated park and its built-up surroundings during three clear and relatively calm summer days. The results showed that the air temperature at 1.2 m height within the park was 0.5 to 1.5 K lower than in the surrounding city blocks, and that the thermal stratification was generally stable (increasing temperature with height) in the park and unstable (decreasing temperature with height) in the built-up areas. In addition, there were a few examples of temperature gradients orientated in different directions within the lowest 2.5 m air layer, indicating horizontal advection between the park and the built-up areas. Climate conditions simulated with a three-dimensional microclimate model agreed well with observations and the model was therefore assumed to provide reasonable representations of important climate processes such as surface-air energy exchange processes. However, there were some discrepancies between observations and simulations that are discussed in terms of differences in real and modelled heat storage processes and wind conditions. Processes that need to be included for a more precise model description of areas such as the Stockholm environment include dynamic heat storage in buildings and dynamic wind forcing during the course of the simulation. A soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer model was used to study soil water transport, the surface energy balance of an asphalt surface, and the impact of urban climate on evapotranspiration. Based on model calibration to field measurements of soil water content in a till catchment outside Stockholm, new parameter values were estimated that can be used for water flow modelling of till soils. The heat fluxes of an asphalt surface were reliably simulated without knowledge of site-specific calibration and the model was useful in identifying problems with energy balance closure based on measurements only. Simulations of ‘urban’ modifications to the forcing climate conditions demonstrated that increased air temperature, and thereby increased vapour pressure deficit, had most effect on evapotranspiration from tall vegetation, while increased long-wave radiation raised grass evapotranspiration the most. / QC 20100901

Submitted by WILTON DIAS DA SILVA null (wilton_ds@hotmail.com) on 2016-04-14T21:38:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Arborização de vias urbanas_potencial de sobreamento das espécies.pdf: 4722505 bytes, checksum: 75274908a80326de917b8364e0f7f834 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-04-18T17:37:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_wd_me_bauru.pdf: 4722505 bytes, checksum: 75274908a80326de917b8364e0f7f834 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-18T17:37:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_wd_me_bauru.pdf: 4722505 bytes, checksum: 75274908a80326de917b8364e0f7f834 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / A arborização de vias urbanas pode se constituir num elemento bastante eficaz na amenização de altas temperaturas na camada intraurbana, através de mecanismos de sombreamento e evapotranspiração. Entretanto, entre os variados tipos de espécies arbóreas, quais seriam as mais indicadas para utilização na arborização das vias, a fim de mitigar a temperatura do ar no ambiente urbano? A utilização de ferramentas computacionais é uma alternativa para análise desta questão, tendo em vista que, o uso destes programas auxilia as pesquisas na área de planejamento e avaliação do ambiente construído, por meio da simulação de variados cenários. Um programa bastante utilizado para estudos de interação entre a vegetação e microclimas urbanos é o ENVI-Met, o qual, no entanto, não contém em seu banco de dados, parâmetros relativos a espécies brasileiras, em particular as de cerrado, o que pode gerar cenários microclimáticos incorretos. O objetivo desta pesquisa é propor um método para avaliação do potencial de sombreamento de espécies usadas em arborização de vias urbanas. Para tanto, foram realizados medições de radiação solar incidente sob copas de algumas espécies, usadas no sombreamento de vias urbanas da cidade de Bauru (SP), cujos resultados foram comparados com os parâmetros das mesmas espécies simulados pelo ENVI-Met. A partir do tratamento dos dados foi gerada uma ferramenta, através da qual é possível extrapolar os resultados para escolha de outras espécies. Assim, espera-se que este método contribua para a indicação de espécies que contenham potencial para mitigação da temperatura do ar nos ambientes construídos. / The afforestation of the urban streets can be a very effective element in the mitigation of high temperatures in urban layer through shading mechanisms and evapotranspiration. However, among the various types of tree species, which are the best indicated for use in street afforestation, to mitigate the air temperature in the urban environment? The use of computational tools would be an alternative to analyze this question, given that the use of these programs help in the research on planning and evaluation of the built environment through the simulation of various scenarios. A program widely used to study the interaction between urban vegetation and microclimates is the ENVI-Met, which, however, does not contain parameters in your database relating to brazilians species, particularly the cerrado species, which can create incorrect microclimatic scenarios. The aims of this research is to propose a method to evaluation of potencial shading of species used in afforestation of urban streets. For that, radiation measurements were performed in incident solar canopies of some species used in shading urban streets of the city of Bauru (SP), whose results were compared with the parameters of the same species simulated by ENVI-Met. From the processing, a tool was generated through which it is possible to extrapolate the results to select other species. Thus, it is expected that this method contributes to the indication of species that contain potential for mitigating the air temperature in the built environment

abstract: Rapid urbanization in Phoenix, Arizona has increased the nighttime temperature by 5°C (9 °F), and the average daily temperatures by 3.1°C (5.6 °F) (Baker et al 2002). On the macro scale, the energy balance of urban surface paving materials is the main contributor to the phenomenon of the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI). On the micro scale, it results in a negative effect on the pedestrian thermal comfort environment. In their efforts to revitalize Downtown Phoenix, pedestrian thermal comfort improvements became one of the main aims for City planners. There has been an effort in reformulating City zoning standards and building codes with the goal of developing a pedestrian friendly civic environment. Much of the literature dealing with mitigating UHI effects recommends extensive tree planting as the chief strategy for reducing the UHI and improving outdoor human thermal comfort. On the pedestrian scale, vegetation plays a significant role in modifying the microclimate by providing shade and aiding the human thermal comfort via evapotranspiration. However, while the extensive tree canopy is beneficial in providing daytime shade for pedestrians, it may reduce the pavement surfaces' sky-view factor during the night, thereby reducing the rate of nighttime radiation to the sky and trapping the heat gained within the urban materials. This study strives to extend the understanding, and optimize the recommendations for the use of landscape in the urban context of Phoenix, Arizona for effectiveness in both improving the human thermal comfort and in mitigating the urban heat island effect. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Design 2014

A influência benéfica de áreas verdes no conforto humano em áreas urbanas tem sido reconhecida por estudos de diferentes campos do conhecimento. Áreas verdes e arborização bem planejada constituem importantes recursos para melhorar a qualidade do ambiente ao promover bem-estar físico e mental aos seus usuários. Avaliar o grau de interferência proporcionado pela arborização no conforto térmico e bem-estar da população foi o objetivo principal do presente estudo. O índice de floresta urbana (IFU) avaliou a interferência da quantidade de cobertura arbórea em quatro áreas da cidade de Campinas/SP/Brasil em relação às condições de conforto térmico. Para tanto, foram utilizados índices de avaliação de conforto térmico (PMV Predicted Mean Vote e PET- Physiologically Equivalent Temperature) obtidos por meio do modelo Ray Man Pro.Questionários aplicados aos usuários das áreas de estudo possibilitaram verificar se os resultados obtidos por meio dos índices PMV e PET correspondiam à real sensação de conforto térmico relatada pelos entrevistados.Simulações com o uso do programa ENVI-met v. 3.1 foram realizadas a fim de observar as interferências microclimáticas causadas pela inserção de vegetação no meio urbano. A percepção do usuário das áreas de estudo em relação à arborização urbana também foi identificada por meio de questionários. Essa pesquisa permitirá no futuro, a partir dos resultados levantados, construir um instrumento para ser incorporado no plano diretor de arborização urbana, possibilitando urbanistas e profissionais, que atuam de forma direta ou indireta no planejamento das cidades, inspecionar e analisar o conforto térmico e a qualidade de vida no meio urbano, tendo em vista a valorização e adequação da arborização viária em seus projetos. / The benefits of green urban area on human comfort have been recognized by studies performed in different knowledge fields. Green areas and urban forest planning are important tool to improve the quality of the urban environment by promoting physical and mental wellbeing to its users. The main goal of the present study is to assess the interference promoted by green areas in the welfare and thermal comfort of the urban population. The Urban Forest Index (IFU) evaluated the interference of the amount of trees in four areas of the city of Campinas, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil in relation to the conditions for thermal comfort. For this purpose, comfort indices have been used for evaluating thermal comfort (PMV-Predicted Mean Vote and PET-Physiologically Equivalent Temperature), obtained by the RayMan model. Questionnaires applied to the users on these study areas aimed to verify if the results of PET and PMV indices corresponded to the thermal sensation by respondents. Simulations using the ENVI-met program v 3.1 were conducted to observe the interference on microclimate due to the presence of vegetation in the urban environment. Questionnaires were also used to assess the perception of users on urban street trees. In the future, results obtained in this study will allow the building of an instrument, which could be included in the urban forest master plan. As a result, urban planners and other professionals who work directly or indirectly in the planning of cities will be able to inspect and evaluate the thermal comfort and the welfare of their citizens, considering the recovery and suitability of urban street trees in their projects.

A influência benéfica de áreas verdes no conforto humano em áreas urbanas tem sido reconhecida por estudos de diferentes campos do conhecimento. Áreas verdes e arborização bem planejada constituem importantes recursos para melhorar a qualidade do ambiente ao promover bem-estar físico e mental aos seus usuários. Avaliar o grau de interferência proporcionado pela arborização no conforto térmico e bem-estar da população foi o objetivo principal do presente estudo. O índice de floresta urbana (IFU) avaliou a interferência da quantidade de cobertura arbórea em quatro áreas da cidade de Campinas/SP/Brasil em relação às condições de conforto térmico. Para tanto, foram utilizados índices de avaliação de conforto térmico (PMV Predicted Mean Vote e PET- Physiologically Equivalent Temperature) obtidos por meio do modelo Ray Man Pro.Questionários aplicados aos usuários das áreas de estudo possibilitaram verificar se os resultados obtidos por meio dos índices PMV e PET correspondiam à real sensação de conforto térmico relatada pelos entrevistados.Simulações com o uso do programa ENVI-met v. 3.1 foram realizadas a fim de observar as interferências microclimáticas causadas pela inserção de vegetação no meio urbano. A percepção do usuário das áreas de estudo em relação à arborização urbana também foi identificada por meio de questionários. Essa pesquisa permitirá no futuro, a partir dos resultados levantados, construir um instrumento para ser incorporado no plano diretor de arborização urbana, possibilitando urbanistas e profissionais, que atuam de forma direta ou indireta no planejamento das cidades, inspecionar e analisar o conforto térmico e a qualidade de vida no meio urbano, tendo em vista a valorização e adequação da arborização viária em seus projetos. / The benefits of green urban area on human comfort have been recognized by studies performed in different knowledge fields. Green areas and urban forest planning are important tool to improve the quality of the urban environment by promoting physical and mental wellbeing to its users. The main goal of the present study is to assess the interference promoted by green areas in the welfare and thermal comfort of the urban population. The Urban Forest Index (IFU) evaluated the interference of the amount of trees in four areas of the city of Campinas, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil in relation to the conditions for thermal comfort. For this purpose, comfort indices have been used for evaluating thermal comfort (PMV-Predicted Mean Vote and PET-Physiologically Equivalent Temperature), obtained by the RayMan model. Questionnaires applied to the users on these study areas aimed to verify if the results of PET and PMV indices corresponded to the thermal sensation by respondents. Simulations using the ENVI-met program v 3.1 were conducted to observe the interference on microclimate due to the presence of vegetation in the urban environment. Questionnaires were also used to assess the perception of users on urban street trees. In the future, results obtained in this study will allow the building of an instrument, which could be included in the urban forest master plan. As a result, urban planners and other professionals who work directly or indirectly in the planning of cities will be able to inspect and evaluate the thermal comfort and the welfare of their citizens, considering the recovery and suitability of urban street trees in their projects.

Submitted by SBI Biblioteca Digital (sbi.bibliotecadigital@puc-campinas.edu.br) on 2017-03-23T13:25:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 L?GIA PARREIRA MUNIZ G?AL.pdf: 5270981 bytes, checksum: 96b0646b01e474b8307ad43548bce884 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-23T13:25:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 L?GIA PARREIRA MUNIZ G?AL.pdf: 5270981 bytes, checksum: 96b0646b01e474b8307ad43548bce884 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-07 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / The formation of cities has shaped the urban street canyons, defined by the street and the buildings that extend along its sides. The land use and occupation are agents that modify the climate, however this is rarely considered in the urban planning of cities. Aspects like height and width ratio, sky view factor, albedo of the surface materials and the presence of vegetation in the canyon have been widely studied in association with the local climatic behavior. Understanding the influence of these parameters on the microclimate of urban street canyons is indispensable to achieve sustainability between urban occupation and thermal comfort. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is to investigate the interference of land use and occupation legislation and urban geometry in the microclimate of an urban street canyon in Campinas/ SP. The methodology used involves the climatic monitoring of the study area in Cambu? (neighborhood), the urban and climatic characterization of three points with different land use and occupation configurations and the selection of the canyon used for simulation scenarios. These scenarios involve two main aspects: the local urban legislation and the canyon geometry (height width ratio - H/W and length height ratio - L/H). The simulations were performed using the microclimatic simulation model ENVI-met 4.0 preview. Scenarios in agreement with the local legislation showed that, in winter, only 25% of day perceived discomfort to heat. In the other hand, in the summer period, a comfortable feeling was perceived in only 25% of the day, providing discomfort to the heat for the rest of the day. In the scenarios varying the urban geometry it was verified that, for scenarios with the same H/W ratio, the PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature) value did not suffer significant alteration. However, when the L/H ratio was fixed and the H/W ratio varied, we noted that deeper canyons led to lower PET peaks. The scenario A, for example, with a lower H/W ratio (0.5) and lower L/H (3) ratio, showed PET peak 7.3?C higher than the scenario I with a higher H/W ratio (2.0) and higher L/H ratio (7). The results showed that there is a strong correlation between the H/W ratio and the thermal comfort of the urban street canyons: deeper canyons yield lower PET values. Moreover, it was verified that the climatic conditions of the canyon are independent of their length (L/H ratio) and that canyons oriented in the prevailing wind direction (SE) reached lower PET values. Finally, it was evidenced that shading and wind speed are fundamental in determining comfort in urban street canyons. / A forma??o das cidades tem configurado os chamados c?nions urbanos, definidos pela interface composta pela via e as edifica??es que se estendem em suas laterais. O uso e ocupa??o do solo s?o agentes modificadores do clima e, no entanto, este ?ltimo tem sido pouco levado em considera??o no planejamento urbano dos munic?pios. Entretanto, aspectos como a rela??o altura e largura do c?nion, o fator de vis?o do c?u, o albedo dos materiais de superf?cie e a presen?a de vegeta??o no c?nion t?m sido amplamente estudados em associa??o com o comportamento clim?tico local. Neste contexto, entender a influ?ncia desses par?metros no microclima de c?nions urbanos ? de fundamental import?ncia para se atingir a sustentabilidade entre ocupa??o urbana e conforto t?rmico. Em vista disso, o objetivo deste trabalho ? analisar a interfer?ncia da legisla??o de uso e ocupa??o do solo e da geometria urbana no microclima de um c?nion urbano da cidade de Campinas/ SP. Para isso foi utilizada uma metodologia que envolve o monitoramento clim?tico do recorte de estudo selecionado no bairro Cambu?, a caracteriza??o urbana e clim?tica de tr?s pontos com diferentes configura??es de uso e ocupa??o do solo e a escolha do c?nion de interesse para simula??o de cen?rios que envolvem dois aspectos principais: a legisla??o urban?stica local e a geometria do c?nion (rela??o altura largura ? H/W e rela??o comprimento altura ? L/H). As simula??es foram realizadas com o modelo de simula??o microclim?tica ENVI-met 4.0 preview. Nos cen?rios respeitando a legisla??o o desconforto para o calor foi observado em apenas 25% do dia no per?odo de inverno; j? no per?odo de ver?o a sensa??o de conforto foi obtida em apenas 25% do dia, sendo observado desconforto para o calor no restante do dia. Nos cen?rios variando a geometria urbana verificou-se que, para cen?rios de mesma rela??o H/W, o valor do PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature) n?o sofreu altera??o significativa. J? quando se fixou a rela??o L/H e variou-se a rela??o H/W, ficou claro que c?nions mais profundos levaram a picos de PET mais baixos. O cen?rio A, por exemplo, de menor rela??o H/W (0,5) e menor rela??o L/H (3), apresentou pico de PET 7,3?C mais alto que o cen?rio I, de maior rela??o H/W (2,0) e maior rela??o L/H (7). Os resultados mostraram que existe forte correla??o entre a rela??o H/W e o conforto t?rmico dos c?nions urbanos: quanto mais profundo, menores os valores de pico do ?ndice PET. Al?m disso, verificou-se que c?nions orientados na dire??o predominante dos ventos alcan?aram valores de PET mais baixos. Por fim, foi evidenciado que o sombreamento da superf?cie e a intensidade da velocidade do vento s?o fundamentais na determina??o do conforto t?rmico em c?nions urbanos.

De nombreuses études au cours des dernières décennies ont porté sur l'effet l’îlot de chaleur urbain (ICU). Les efforts initiaux visant à comprendre les facteurs qui influent sur l’ICU ont contribué à la mise en place de solutions et de stratégies d'atténuation adaptées. Les stratégies d'atténuation comprennent généralement l'augmentation de l'albédo urbain (réflectivité au rayonnement solaire) et l'évapotranspiration. Les augmentations d'albedo sont obtenues grâce à des technologies de toiture et de pavage ayant un albédo élevé. Une augmentation de l'évapotranspiration est obtenue par une combinaison de la diminution de la fraction de surfaces imperméables et la plantation de végétation dans les zones urbaines. Le confort thermique extérieur est défini à partir d’indices prenant en compte différents paramètres physiques et traduit la perception et la satisfaction des piétons. Ce confort est très difficile à obtenir en climat chaud et aride. Par conséquent, le travail présenté dans ce document met l'accent sur les méthodes appropriées pour réduire l’ICU et ainsi améliorer le confort thermique en plein air des piétons. Jusqu’à présent, peu de recherches ont été menées sur le confort thermique extérieur dans un climat chaud et aride. Les études sur l'atténuation de l'ICU et le confort thermique extérieur sont pratiquement inexistantes pour la ville de Bagdad. Bagdad a un tissu urbain complexe avec des constructions modernes, des maisons traditionnelles et des éléments caractéristiques du patrimoine local. Le climat en été est chaud, et les mois d'été sont considérés comme la plus longue saison avec près de 7 mois de l'année. Dans un premier temps, cette étude se concentre sur l'étude des stratégies d'atténuation à envisager afin d’évaluer comment le confort des piétons est affecté par les choix de conception des constructions, en comparant un quartier traditionnel à un quartier moderne. L’étude envisage ensuite la façon dont la végétation et les ombrages contribuent à réduire l'effet de l'ICU et à améliorer le confort thermique extérieur. Quatre scénarios différents sont élaborés pour évaluer le rôle d’éléments végétaux tels que les arbres, l'herbe et les différents modèles d'ombrage. L'évaluation a été effectuée le jour le plus chaud de l'été, la température radiante moyenne, l'humidité spécifique, la température de l'air et les distributions de la vitesse du vent ont été analysées à l'aide du logiciel ENVI-met. Le confort thermique est ensuite évalué à l'aide des indices thermiques de la température équivalente physiologique PET et du PMV étendu aux ambiances extérieures. En outre, une proposition de solution est abordée afin d’étudier son impact sur le confort thermique pour la journée la plus chaude (situation extrême) et une journée typique d’été. Les résultats ont révélé une amélioration du confort thermique dans la journée typique d’été. L'étude montre comment les facteurs urbains tels que le rapport d'aspect, la couverture végétale, les ombres et la géométrie du quartier sont des éléments cruciaux que les urbanistes et les municipalités doivent prendre en compte, en particulier pour les nouveaux aménagements urbains dans un climat chaud et aride. Une proposition d’aménagement global pour atténuer les ICU dans le cas d’un nouveau quartier sous climat aride, est détaillée en fin de mémoire. / Numerous studies over the past several decades focused on the effect of the Urban Heat Island. Initial efforts on understanding the factors affecting UHI contributed to proceed the appropriate solutions and mitigation strategies. Mitigation strategies comprise increase both urban albedo (reflectivity to solar radiation), and evapotranspiration. Albedo increases are obtained through high albedo roofing and paving technologies. An increase in evapotranspiration is achieved through a combination of decreasing the fraction of impervious surfaces and planting vegetation in urban areas. The outdoor thermal comfort is influenced by the perception and satisfaction of the pedestrians, especially in hot and arid climates. Consequently, this work focuses on the appropriate methods for reducing the Urban Heat Island and thus to enhance the pedestrians outdoor thermal comfort. However, there is limited research conducted on the outdoor thermal comfort in hot and arid climate. The studies on the mitigation the Urban Heat Island and the outdoor thermal comfort are almost non-existent for Baghdad city. Baghdad has a complex urban fabric with modern design constructions buildings, traditional and heritage houses. The climate in summer is hot, and summer months are considered the longest season with nearly 7 months of the year. This study focuses on investigating possible mitigation strategies to ensure how pedestrian comfort is affected by the constructions design choices comparing a traditional district to a modern one, and on how vegetation and shading patterns contribute to reducing the effect of UHI and improving the outdoor thermal comfort. Four different scenarios are designed to assess the role of vegetation elements such as trees, grass, and different shading patterns. The evaluation was performed on the hottest day in summer, the mean radiant temperature, specific humidity, air temperature, and wind speed distributions have been analyzed using ENVI-met software. Thermal comfort is assessed using the thermal indices the Physiological Equivalent Temperature PET and the Predicted Mean Vote PMV. Also, a proposal model is designed to evaluate the thermal comfort on the hottest day and the typical day in summer. The results revealed an improvement on thermal comfort in the typical day in summer. The study shows how the urban factors such as the aspect ratio, vegetation cover, shadings, and geometry of the canyon are crucial elements that urban planners and municipalities have to take into account, especially for new urban developments in hot, arid climate.

abstract: Urban climate conditions are the physical manifestation of formal and informal social forces of design, policy, and urban management. The urban design community (e.g. planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, engineers) impacts urban development through influential built projects and design discourse. Their decisions create urban landscapes that impact physiological and mental health for people that live in and around them. Therefore, to understand possible opportunities for decision-making to support healthier urban environments and communities, this dissertation examines the role of neighborhood design on the thermal environment and the effect the thermal environment has on mental health. In situ data collection and numerical modeling are used to assess current and proposed urban design configurations in the Edison Eastlake public housing community in central Phoenix for their efficacy in cooling the thermal environment. A distributed lagged non-linear model is used to investigate the relative risk of hospitalization for schizophrenia in Maricopa County based on atmospheric conditions. The dissertation incorporates both an assessment of design strategies for the cooling of the thermal environment and an analysis of the existing thermal environment’s relationship with mental health. By reframing the urban design of neighborhoods through the lens of urban climate, this research reinforces the importance of incorporating the community into the planning process and highlights some unintended outcomes of prioritizing the thermal environment in urban design. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geography 2020

Entender o clima dos espaços urbanos em suas diversas conformações é objeto de grande interesse para a melhoria da qualidade de vida da população que usufrui desses espaços. Cada microclima requer intervenções específicas para a obtenção de condições favoráveis de conforto higrotérmico tendo em vista a saúde e o bem estar de seus usuários. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar elementos de vegetação como barreira aos ventos visando o conforto térmico em espaços abertos. O procedimento utilizado foi quantificar a interferência de elementos vegetais na passagem dos ventos, na altura dos pedestres, a partir de configurações de vegetação pré-estabelecidas. O cenário eleito para este estudo foi a área externa do Campus da Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), localizado no bairro Taquaral em Piracicaba, SP. Embora trate-se de clima predominantemente quente, há relatos de desconforto no local em dias frios decorrente do excesso de ventos. Foram estudadas três diferentes espécies dispostas em arranjos com intenção de barreira aos ventos: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino e Pinus caribaea Morelet. As variáveis microclimáticas medidas foram temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade dos ventos, em três posições distintas por espécie: em um campo aberto próximo, antes e depois da barreira. O período de coleta de dados foi das 9 às 21 horas, em intervalos de 3 minutos, durante três dias por espécie, nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2014. Os resultados obtidos no campo aberto foram comparados aos registrados na estação meteorológica da ESALQ-USP no mesmo período. Foi feita a medição do LAI (Índice de Área Foliar) das espécies. Foram realizadas simulações computacionais em modelagem da área no programa ENVI-met® 3.1, com os dados de Densidade de Área Foliar (LAD) estimados a partir dos valores de LAI obtidos nas medições, como parte dos estudos de viabilidade para adoção do LAI como parâmetro na previsão de resultados, o que permitiria sua aplicabilidade a outras espécies. Os resultados obtidos indicam uma tendência favorável a este princípio, porém estudos com maior intensidade amostral são necessários para obtenção desta correlação. Outras aplicações podem ser beneficiadas com esta linha de estudo, como a previsão do risco de queda de árvores. / Understanding the climate of urban spaces in their various conformations is subject of great interest to improve the quality of life of the population that occupies these spaces. Each microclimate requires specific interventions to obtain favorable terms of hygrothermal comfort owing to health and welfare of its members. The objective of this research was to evaluate plant matter as a barrier to winds targeting the thermal comfort in open spaces. The procedure was quantifying the interference of tree elements in the passage of winds, at a pedestrian level, from pre-established vegetation settings. The chosen scenario for this study was the campus of the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), located in the Taquaral neighborhood in Piracicaba, SP. While dealing is predominantly warm weather, discomfort is reported in cold weather due to the excessive winds in the external areas. We studied three different species placed in arrangements intended as wind barriers: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino and Pinus caribaea Morelet. Microclimate variables measured were air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, in three different positions by species: in a nearby open field, before and after the barrier. The data collection period was from 9 to 21 o\'clock, at 3-minute intervals for three days by species, in August and September 2014. Results obtained in open field were compared with those recorded at ESALQ-USP\'s weather station during the same period. The LAI (Leaf Area Index) of the species was measured. Computer simulations were performed by modeling the area in ENVImet® 3.1 program, with the Leaf Area Density data (LAD) estimated from the LAI values obtained in measurements, as part of feasibility studies for the adoption of LAI as a parameter in the forecast results, allowing its applicability to other species. The results indicate a positive trend towards this principle, however, studies with larger sample intensity are required in order to achieve this correlation. Other applications may benefit from this line of study, such as the prediction of falling trees risks.

Entender o clima dos espaços urbanos em suas diversas conformações é objeto de grande interesse para a melhoria da qualidade de vida da população que usufrui desses espaços. Cada microclima requer intervenções específicas para a obtenção de condições favoráveis de conforto higrotérmico tendo em vista a saúde e o bem estar de seus usuários. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar elementos de vegetação como barreira aos ventos visando o conforto térmico em espaços abertos. O procedimento utilizado foi quantificar a interferência de elementos vegetais na passagem dos ventos, na altura dos pedestres, a partir de configurações de vegetação pré-estabelecidas. O cenário eleito para este estudo foi a área externa do Campus da Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), localizado no bairro Taquaral em Piracicaba, SP. Embora trate-se de clima predominantemente quente, há relatos de desconforto no local em dias frios decorrente do excesso de ventos. Foram estudadas três diferentes espécies dispostas em arranjos com intenção de barreira aos ventos: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino e Pinus caribaea Morelet. As variáveis microclimáticas medidas foram temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade dos ventos, em três posições distintas por espécie: em um campo aberto próximo, antes e depois da barreira. O período de coleta de dados foi das 9 às 21 horas, em intervalos de 3 minutos, durante três dias por espécie, nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2014. Os resultados obtidos no campo aberto foram comparados aos registrados na estação meteorológica da ESALQ-USP no mesmo período. Foi feita a medição do LAI (Índice de Área Foliar) das espécies. Foram realizadas simulações computacionais em modelagem da área no programa ENVI-met® 3.1, com os dados de Densidade de Área Foliar (LAD) estimados a partir dos valores de LAI obtidos nas medições, como parte dos estudos de viabilidade para adoção do LAI como parâmetro na previsão de resultados, o que permitiria sua aplicabilidade a outras espécies. Os resultados obtidos indicam uma tendência favorável a este princípio, porém estudos com maior intensidade amostral são necessários para obtenção desta correlação. Outras aplicações podem ser beneficiadas com esta linha de estudo, como a previsão do risco de queda de árvores. / Understanding the climate of urban spaces in their various conformations is subject of great interest to improve the quality of life of the population that occupies these spaces. Each microclimate requires specific interventions to obtain favorable terms of hygrothermal comfort owing to health and welfare of its members. The objective of this research was to evaluate plant matter as a barrier to winds targeting the thermal comfort in open spaces. The procedure was quantifying the interference of tree elements in the passage of winds, at a pedestrian level, from pre-established vegetation settings. The chosen scenario for this study was the campus of the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), located in the Taquaral neighborhood in Piracicaba, SP. While dealing is predominantly warm weather, discomfort is reported in cold weather due to the excessive winds in the external areas. We studied three different species placed in arrangements intended as wind barriers: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino and Pinus caribaea Morelet. Microclimate variables measured were air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, in three different positions by species: in a nearby open field, before and after the barrier. The data collection period was from 9 to 21 o\'clock, at 3-minute intervals for three days by species, in August and September 2014. Results obtained in open field were compared with those recorded at ESALQ-USP\'s weather station during the same period. The LAI (Leaf Area Index) of the species was measured. Computer simulations were performed by modeling the area in ENVImet® 3.1 program, with the Leaf Area Density data (LAD) estimated from the LAI values obtained in measurements, as part of feasibility studies for the adoption of LAI as a parameter in the forecast results, allowing its applicability to other species. The results indicate a positive trend towards this principle, however, studies with larger sample intensity are required in order to achieve this correlation. Other applications may benefit from this line of study, such as the prediction of falling trees risks.