Urbanisation is associated with physical modifications of land surfaces and climate of a given area. Studies of urbanisation effect on urban climate of Klang Valley region is below par. This research aims to bridge the gap by using a coupled Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with the NOAH Land Surface Model (NOAH) and Urban Canopy Model (UCM) – WRF/NOAH/UCM to investigate the urban climatology of Klang Valley and the urbanisation of Putrajaya over a decade. In addition, evaluation of the garden city concept adopted in the development of Putrajaya city is also conducted. The model is first validated against a network of meteorological observations in the region to determine its suitability for urban climate investigations. Climatological variables (near-surface temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) along with land use and land cover (LULC) changes; planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), and urban heat/cool islands (UHI/UCI) of the area are also investigated. The model evaluation shows good performance over the region. LULC changes demonstrates strong influence in thermal climatology variations. A mean maximum UHI intensity of ~4.2 ºC was observed in the urban canopy-layer of the Klang Valley. Results reveal that urbanisation of Putrajaya leads to 2-m temperature increase at the rate of ~1.66 ºC per decade, with the area experiencing a mean UHI intensity of ~2.1 ºC per day. Other climatological variables vary accordingly with the urbanisation processes. Evaluation of the garden city concept indicates that the adopted concept causes a reduction in 2-m air temperature of the Putrajaya area, amounting to ~0.53 ºC per day; with vegetation contributing more (~0.39 ºC) to the daily reduction relative to water bodies (~0.14 ºC). Location of the city in the tropics accustomed with high intensity of daily solar radiation masked the cooling potentials of the concept to some extent.

Double Skin Facades (DSFs) have been developed as an alternative technology to improve the thermal performance of conventional fully glazed buildings. Nevertheless, there is little test information on the behaviour and real performance of DSFs. This is specifically the case when the facade has to perform under extreme or moderate summer conditions. The characteristics of thermal overheating of a specific type of DSF with various configurations and its practical control have not been subjected to systematic experimental and computational investigations. This research which is based on an existent load of knowledge, carried out experiments of a full-scale one-storey laboratory chamber of a selected type of Double Skin Facade in which a comparative analysis of the thermal performance is assessed, CFD simulations of the experimental model and a Field Case Study of an existing building in the United Kingdom is also monitored. The basic thermal behaviour in the facade cavity and adjacent room is investigated by a series of parametric studies and basic flow field investigations. Section models of the DSF chamber and the case building were made and modelled using CFD in order to visualise the thermal and airflow behaviour inside the DSF complementing the experimental and field work. The modelling work has demonstrated the feasibility and versatility of the technique for probing the flow and thermal behaviour of double skin facades. It was found that natural ventilation through the cavity by a series of controlled opening shafts on the upper and lower facade are effective means to reduce DSF overheating. It was also observed that the optical properties of cavity elements, cavity depth size, solar control and the basic operation of the facade are key issues to address in order to prevent overheating and additional heat loads from the facade.

This thesis examines the use of aerial thermography data to discriminate loft (attic) insulation levels in residential housing, with ventilated pitched roofs, in the UK. Quantitative techniques from the fields of remote sensing, GIS, building physics and atmospheric science were used to develop a methodology and analyse survey data flown over Nottingham in 2001. The quantitative techniques were applied to real survey data using the most up to date atmospheric propagation models. A new model of the heat loss through the ceiling, loft and roof was developed for this study, based on the most recent methods. The limitations of these techniques were explored. A complete methodology, valid for any future study, was defined. It was found that, measuring roof surface temperature from the thermal image was complicated by roof material properties, the intervening atmosphere and the surrounding topography. Relating roof surface temperature to insulation thickness was further complicated by loft space ventilation and the outside surface heat balance. The additional data, needed to quantify the results, produced inaccuracies caused by measurement error. Analysis of the uncertainties, by simulation, indicated that loft insulation level could not be discriminated by aerial thermography. This was confirmed by comparing the results, calculated from the survey data, with the actual insulation level for a number of houses in test areas of the city.

Monitoring is a process of observing any changes on a monitored subject. Deformation monitoring is a process which consists of four stages: specification, design, implementation and analysis [Kennie et al., 1990], with the structure being monitored on a daily, hourly or continuous basis for any changes in position, size and shape. With the Global Positioning System (GPS), a 24-hour all weather monitoring system can be established. However, for kinematic GPS, un-mitigated troposphere and multipath remain as the main source of errors in the position residuals. These were investigated in detail using data from field trials conducted by the author which suite their particular purposes. The investigations were made using static and moving stations, and included stations at the same altitude, and stations with a high difference in altitude, and baseline lengths of less than ten kilometres. Using Adaptive Filtering (AF) technique, common signals in two time series can be extracted. By performing AF and interchanging position residuals time series as reference and desired (Forward and Backward) using consecutive days of data will show the multipath and this can be confirmed with a third day of data. While same day AF can be used to separate un-mitigated troposphere and movements from receiver noise. The position residuals considered in this thesis were processed with Leica Ski-Pro Version 3.0 software. These were validated and through comparisons made using a kinematic GPS processing software named KINPOS, developed by previous researchers at the IESSG, University of Nottingham and the use of Virtual Reference Station (VRS) data were also investigated by comparing with actual data. Through the field trials carried out on Snowdon, University campus, Humber Bridge and Forth Road Bridge, the novelty of this thesis is that it demonstrates that by better understanding the trends in unmitigated troposphere and multipath, the use of kinematic GPS for monitoring tall structures can be improved, making the results more suitable for engineers and building owners or managers to better assess building performance during extreme motions caused by traffic, earthquakes, strong winds, and other climatic conditions.

Buildings are responsible for over 70% of the average city’s greenhouse gas emissions. As the key component of buildings, window serves very important role in architecture. In current energy efficient building practice, windows are considerably less well insulating component than other parts of the building envelope. Therefore improving windows thermal performance is an important issue to develop energy efficiency building design. This research is carried out from the case studies of zero/low carbon buildings, in which windows were found the weakest part of building envelope. Within this work state-of-the-art window glazing types, latest best performing fenestration products in the market and advanced window technologies are reviewed. Vacuum window technology using evacauted tube pannels will be presented in this research work, as well as Thermoelectric (TEC) window system and Thermoelectric power generation window system. The objectives of the development of novel window systems are: (1) to develop the first-of-its-kind window technology using evacuated tube panels, its thermal transmittance (U-value) will be studied; (2) In order to compare U-values data with high performance windows, thermal performance of novel designed Aerogel and argon window system will be investigated; (3) to develop novel window system by combining evacuated tube panels and thermoelectric modules, which is functioned as a heat pump device; (4) to develop window system as a power generation device by interating thermoelectric generator. Novel windows technologies would meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes and those of commercial buildings. The study on development of novel window systems is carried on from the current window technologies and includes: (1) Computer modelling results show U-values about 0.59 W/m2K for double wall vacuum tube window, 0.61 W/m2K for single wall vacuum tube window. Laboratory measurements are carried out to validate theoretical results. The test results show that 1.0 W/m2K and 1.1 W/m2K for double and single wall vacuum tube window respectively. Economic and environmental assessments are also analysed. (2) Numerical model and laboratory tests have illustrated the U-values of different thickness of aerogel, argon and combination of both filled window. Comparing to standard double glazed window unit with 20mm air gap (U-value of 2.8 W/m2K), the U-value result of 6mm Aerogel-Argon window can be improved by 45% in theory and 30% according to the laboratory measurement results. (3) Advanced glazing will become “Energy Suppliers” as well as “Energy Managers”. Novel design of thermoelectric window system may function as “a heat pump” contributing buildings’ heating load in winter. Laboratory and outdoor tests investigate the amount of heat supply under various voltage regimes and weather conditions. (4) The electric power output of thermoelectric generator device combined with vacuum tube is examined under different experimental thermal conditions. The use of TEM has advantages of its maintainance free and can operate from any heat source. Window unit (sized1m×1m) installed such device can generate electricity approximately 70~180W.