Our climate and our cities are changing. Though their changes are not completely dependent upon one another, there is still a coupling effect between them. This study assesses the role of urban form as it pertains to elements of climate change. It is comprised of two essays intended for publication. The first of these essays addresses the feedbacks between urban form, energy consumption, and rising global temperatures. The second essay looks at one particular factor of urban form--tree type--as it pertains to air pollution and urban heat island mitigation. Both papers use the analytical approaches necessary to answer the questions they pose, not ubiquitous over-generalizing modeling software or methods found often in the literature. As seen in the analyses, this practice--known as geocomputation--allows for a deeper and more accurate description of complex spatial relationships.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:09:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 11413060 bytes, checksum: c87932a841bc7ec8af06a439eec480af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This dissertation aims to investigate the nature of the thermal interaction between two close-facing buildings, within the urban verticalized context of the area of Boa Viagem, Recife-PE. The method adopted consisted of hourly measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and speed through five meteorological stations installed in the confronting façades of the two buildings. In the same period, at eight points throughout the day, measurements of superficial temperature of these façades and floors between the buildings has been carried out; including radiating temperature measured through a globe thermometer located between the two buildings. For analysis of the thermal distribution of the façades, infra red images were used. The data captured has been compared with the data taken from the meteorological station at the local airport, (reference station), and analyzed using the Pearson method of statistics analysis. The results show that the mean temperature of the façades and air between the buildings are highly influenced by the direct solar radiation, as well as by the reflection of the solar radiation and emission of long-wave radiation, through the façade of the confronting building and floor between them. It was also observed that the colors of the façades and constitution of the walls affect the temperature of the façades. Comparison with the data of the reference station showed an accented reduction of the mean wind speed and increase of the mean air temperature, with formation of urban heat island between the buildings. Thus, the current model of urban planning adopted in the studied area is not the most adequate bioclimatic solution, because it is condusive to the formation of a heat island between buildings. / Esta dissertação teve por finalidade investigar como se comporta a interação térmica entre dois edifícios confrontantes, inseridos dentro do contexto urbano do bairro de Boa Viagem, em Recife-PE. Para isso, o método adotado consistiu em medições horárias de temperatura do ar, umidade relativa, direção e velocidade dos ventos através de cinco estações meteorológicas instaladas nas fachadas confrontantes dos dois edifícios. No mesmo período, em oito horários diários, efetuaram-se medições de temperatura superficial destas fachadas e piso entre os edifícios, além de temperatura radiante através de termômetro de globo posicionado entre eles. Para análise da distribuição térmica das fachadas, foram utilizadas imagens infravermelhas das mesmas. Os dados obtidos foram confrontados com os da estação meteorológica do aeroporto local, de referência, e analisados utilizando-se o método de análise estatística de Pearson. Os resultados demonstraram que as temperaturas médias das fachadas e do ar entre os edifícios são altamente influenciadas pela radiação solar direta, assim como pela reflexão da radiação solar e emissão de radiação de onda-longa, através da fachada do edifício confrontante e piso entre eles. Foi observado também que as cores dos revestimentos das fachadas e constituição das paredes interferem na temperatura das fachadas. A comparação com os dados da estação de referência mostrou uma acentuada diminuição da velocidade média do vento e aumento da temperatura média do ar, com formação de ilha de calor urbano entre os edifícios. Conclui-se que o modelo de planejamento urbano atualmente adotado no local de estudo não é a solução bioclimática mais adequada, pois favorece a formação de ilha de calor entre os edifícios.

abstract: The global increase in urbanization has raised questions about urban sustainability to which multiple research communities have entered. Those communities addressing interest in the urban heat island (UHI) effect and extreme temperatures include land system science, urban/landscape ecology, and urban climatology. General investigations of UHI have focused primarily on land surface and canopy layer air temperatures. The surface temperature is of prime importance to UHI studies because of its central rule in the surface energy balance, direct effects on air temperature, and outdoor thermal comfort. Focusing on the diurnal surface temperature variations in Phoenix, Arizona, especially on the cool (green space) island effect and the surface heat island effect, the dissertation develops three research papers that improve the integration among the abovementioned sub-fields. Specifically, these papers involve: (1) the quantification and modeling of the diurnal cooling benefits of green space; (2) the optimization of green space locations to reduce the surface heat island effect in daytime and nighttime; and, (3) an evaluation of the effects of vertical urban forms on land surface temperature using Google Street View. These works demonstrate that the pattern of new green spaces in central Phoenix could be optimized such that 96% of the maximum daytime and nighttime cooling benefits would be achieved, and that Google Street View data offers an alternative to other data, providing the vertical dimensions of land-cover for addressing surface temperature impacts, increasing the model accuracy over the use of horizontal land-cover data alone. Taken together, the dissertation points the way towards the integration of research directions to better understand the consequences of detailed land conditions on temperatures in urban areas, providing insights for urban designs to alleviate these extremes. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geography 2018

As altas concentrações de ozônio troposférico e outros poluentes constituem riscos à saúde da população da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP), sendo regidas por complexos fatores de origem antrópica (como a emissão de poluentes precursores) e natural (como a disponibilidade de radiação solar). Na primeira etapa do estudo, as estações de monitoramento da CETESB foram classificadas de acordo com o uso e ocupação do solo, através de critérios sugeridos pelo OMS, em veicular, comercial, residencial e background urbano. Foi realizada a avaliação de séries temporais, de 1996-2011, medidas em estações da CETESB, principalmente pela comparação do ciclo sazonal de ozônio nas estações com diferentes classificações de uso do solo. A segunda etapa se caracterizou pela realização, no modelo atmosférico WRF/Chem 3.2.1, de testes de sensibilidade, onde alterações nas características de emissão e uso do solo foram realizadas por meio de programas em SIG, configurando diferentes cenários que foram comparados à um cenário de controle, durante um período de intensa insolação na região de estudo (verão de 2014). Os resultados da primeira etapa indicaram concentrações médias de ozônio mais elevadas em estações de uso do solo residencial ou de background urbano (com média mensal mais alta de 57 gm-3 ou 28 ppb em outubro na estação Pico do Jaraguá), e mais baixas em estações com uso do solo veicular e comercial (com média mensal mais baixa de 6 gm-3 ou 3 ppb em junho na estação Lapa); o oposto do verificado para outros poluentes, tanto na escala diurna como na sazonal. Os resultados da segunda etapa (modelagem) demonstraram que o tamanho das áreas onde as emissões antropogênicas veiculares foram alteradas influencia diretamente na intensidade e distribuição espacial das alterações de ozônio e poluentes primários avaliados. Os cenários com redução mais intensa da emissão (100%) também indicaram alterações mais intensas do que os com redução moderada (50%). Os cenários com número total de veículos reduzido apresentaram as reduções mais expressivas de ozônio, com redução média de 18 gm-3 ou 9 ppb durante o dia no cenário que simula um pedágio urbano no centro de São Paulo. A circulação local de brisa marítima foi determinante para o transporte do excesso ou déficit de ozônio e poluentes precursores para diferentes regiões da RMSP. A modificação de uso do solo acarretou em diferentes propriedades termodinâmicas de superfície e emissão de compostos biogênicos associados à formação do ozônio, acarretando em concentrações mais altas dentro das áreas modificadas (com aumento médio de 10 gm-3 ou 5 ppb durante todos os horários do dia no cenário em que se simula a construção de um parque urbano em São Paulo) e transporte para regiões mais distantes. Concluiu-se que, nas condições ambientais e de infraestrutura atuais encontradas na RMSP, a implementação de um parque deverá acarretar na elevação das concentrações médias de ozônio na área alterada (com possíveis impactos de aumento ou redução também em áreas adjacentes e distantes, de acordo com a circulação atmosférica predominante). Sugere-se o foco no transporte público e não motorizado, além do ordenamento adequado do uso e ocupação do solo e políticas de desenvolvimento de combustíveis mais limpos para a mitigação destes problemas e implementação de parques urbanos sem aumento das concentrações de ozônio. / High concentrations of pollutants such as tropospheric ozone pose health risks for the population of the São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). It is influenced by complex factors from anthropogenic (emission of precursor pollutants) and natural (such as the availability of sunlight) origin, typical of the study region. In the first part of the study, state Environmental Agency (CETESB) monitoring stations were classified per their land use, using WHO criteria, into vehicular, commercial, residential and urban background. Also, pollutant time series from 1996-2011 from these stations were analysed, mainly through the comparison of the ozone seasonal cycle in monitoring stations with different land use classes. The second part of the study was focused on the evaluation in the atmospheric model WRF/Chem 3.2.1, of sensitivity tests, where changes on the emission and land use characteristics were performed in GIS softwares, configuring different scenarios which were compared to a control simulation during a period of intense availability of sunlight in the study region. Results from the first part indicated that higher average ozone concentrations were found in stations with residential and urban background land use classes (with the highest monthly average of 57 gm-3 or 28 ppb in October at Pico do Jaraguá station), and lower in vehicular and commercial stations (with the lowest monthly average of 6 gm-3 or 3 ppb in June at Lapa station), the opposite of what was found for other pollutants, both in the diurnal and seasonal scales. Significant correlations were calculated between stations with similar land use classes. Results from the second part (atmospheric modelling) showed that the size of the altered area strongly impacts the intensity and spatial distribution of the changes simulated for ozone and other primary pollutants evaluated. The scenarios with more intense emission decrease (100%) also indicated more intense changes compared to the scenarios with moderated decrease (50%). Scenarios with decreased total vehicle number also presented significant reduction in ozone, with an average decrease of 18 gm-3 or 9 ppb during the day in a scenario simulating an urban toll in downtown São Paulo. The local sea breeze circulation determined the transport of the excess or deficit of ozone and other precursor pollutants to different regions within the SPMA. Changes in land use induced different atmospheric circulation characteristics by changing the surface thermodynamic properties and by the emission of biogenic compounds which act as precursors for ozone, resulting in higher concentrations within the modified areas (with an increase of 10 gm-3 or 5 ppb during all hours of the day in the scenario which simulates the building of an urban park in Sao Paulo) and transport for more distant areas. As a conclusion, the building of a park within the current infrastructure and environmental conditions in the SPMA should increase average ozone concentrations in the modified areas (with possible impacts of increase and reduction in near and far regions, according to the prevailing atmospheric circulation), specially if it is located relatively near avenues with intense vehicle circulation. We suggest focus on public and non-motorized transport systems, proper land use management and policies for the development of cleaner fuels for the mitigation of these problems and implementation of urban parks without increasing ozone concentrations.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Orientador: Lucila Chebel Labaki / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-11T21:19:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dacanal_Cristiane_D.pdf: 11178954 bytes, checksum: 264b1339c0c91df1787d0fd078e67c29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O processo de urbanização é causador de grandes impactos ambientais, dentre eles a extinção da vegetação nativa. Pouco se sabe sobre o efeito de fragmentos florestais no clima local urbano, apesar de haver um consenso em relação aos benefícios da vegetação na modificação do microclima e na melhoria dos níveis de conforto térmico humano. Este estudo tem como objetivos caracterizar o microclima de fragmentos florestais, remanescentes da Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, na cidade de Campinas-SP; quantificar a magnitude e a extensão do efeito de fragmentos florestais urbanos no clima do entorno edificado; e encontrar um percentual mínimo de área de fragmento florestal em relação à área total urbanizada que seja suficiente para modificar o clima local urbano. Para tanto, foram realizados monitoramentos fixos e móveis de variáveis climáticas na microescala e na escala local urbana. Os fragmentos florestais foram caracterizados por meio da abertura do dossel florestal, da área e com base em inventários. A paisagem urbana foi descrita a partir da classificação do uso do solo, sendo possível distinguir as zonas climáticas urbanas e o padrão da fronteira. Os resultados mostram que a estabilidade térmica aumenta com a área dos fragmentos florestais. Ocorrem diferenças térmicas e de umidade do ar no perfil vertical e horizontal das florestas, que são influenciadas pelo ambiente construído. Por outro lado, foi possível constatar que o efeito das florestas sobre a o clima local urbano aumenta com o percentual de área de floresta sobre o total urbanizado (A.V. / A.U.). Sugere-se uma porcentagem mínima de 20% de A.V. / A.U. No tecido urbano, recomenda-se a distribuição homogênea de fragmentos florestais, com formato regular, em uma distância de aproximadamente o dobro da largura média dos fragmentos / Abstract: The urbanization process causes major environmental impacts, among them the native vegetation extinction. Little is known about the effects of forest fragments in an urban environment, although there is a consensus regarding the benefits of vegetation in modifying the microclimate and improving the human thermal comfort. This study aims to characterize the microclimate of the forest fragments, remnants of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest, in the city of Campinas; to quantify the magnitude and extent of the effect of urban forest fragments in the climate of the surrounding buildings; and to find a minimum percentage of forest fragmentation area in relation to the total urbanized area which is sufficient to modify the local urban climate. Thus, observations of climate variables in both micro and local scales were made. The forest fragments were characterized by measurements of forest canopy openness, area and inventories. The urban landscape was described based on land use classification, being possible to distinguish the climatic urban zones and the frontier pattern. The results show that thermal stability increases with the area of forest fragments. There were differences of thermal and air humidity in the vertical and horizontal profile of forests, which are influenced by the built environment. On the other hand, it was possible to conclude that the effect of forests on the local urban climate increases along with the percentage of forest area over the total urbanized area (A.V. / A.U.). It was suggested a minimum percentage of 20% of A.V./A.U. It was recommended a homogenous distribution of forest fragments through the city, in a distance about a double of the medium fragments width / Doutorado / Arquitetura e Construção / Doutor em Engenharia Civil

The Earth's climate is changing and cities are facing a warmer future. As the locus of economic activity and concentrated populations on the planet, cities are both a primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions and places where the human health impacts of climate change are directly felt. Cities increase local temperatures through the conversion of natural land covers to urban uses, and exposures to elevated temperatures represent a serious and growing health threat for urban residents. This work is concerned with understanding the interactions of global trends in climate with local influences tied to urban land covers. First, it examines temperatures during an extended period of extreme heat and asks whether changes in land surface temperatures during a heat wave are consistent in space and time across all land cover types. Second, the influences of land covers on temperatures are considered for normal and extreme summer weather to find out which characteristics of the built environment most influence temperatures during periods of extreme heat. Finally, the distribution of health vulnerabilities related to extreme heat in cities are described and examined for spatial patterns. These topics are investigated using meteorology from the summer of 2006 to identify extremely hot days in the cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Phoenix and their surrounding metropolitan regions. Remotely sensed temperature data were examined with physical and social characteristics of the urban environment to answer the questions posed above. The findings confirm that urban land covers consistently exhibit higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas and are much more likely to be among the hottest in the region, during a heat wave specifically. In some cities urban thermal anomalies grew between the beginning and end of a heat wave. The importance of previously recognized built environment thermal influences (impervious cover and tree canopy) were present, and in some cases, emphasized during extreme summer weather. Extreme heat health health vulnerability related to environmental factors coincided spatially with risks related to social status. This finding suggests that populations with fewer resources for coping with extreme heat tend to reside in built environments that increase temperatures, and thus they may be experiencing increased thermal exposures. Physical interventions and policies related to the built environment can help to reduce urban temperatures, especially during periods of extremely hot weather which are predicted to become more frequent with global climate change. In portions of the city where populations with limited adaptive capacity are concentrated, modification of the urban landscape to decrease near surface longwave radiation can reduce the chances of adverse health effects related to extreme heat. The specific programs, policies, and design strategies pursued by cities and regions must be tailored with respect to scale, location, and cultural context. This work concludes with suggestions for such strategies.

O planejamento ou a readequação urbana de espaços abertos são capazes de promover a melhoria das condições térmicas exteriores, e assim, influenciar qualitativamente o uso de espaços abertos. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar a sensação térmica da população de Curitiba e propor um modelo de predição de sensação térmica adequado às condições climáticas locais. Os locais de estudo são ruas de pedestres da Rua XV de Novembro e cercanias. Foram realizados 15 levantamentos de campo, sendo 14 dias no período entre janeiro e agosto de 2009 e um dia em junho de 2010, totalizando 15 situações urbanas distintas. Os levantamentos ocorreram entre 10h00 e 15h00 em dias de semana e foram monitorados dados climáticos e levantados dados pessoais, com o uso de questionários. A metodologia utilizada compreendeu quatro etapas: análise da relação entre as características urbanas e a sensação térmica; análise da sensação térmica real, a partir dos dados coletados; análise da sensação térmica por meio dos índices PMV, PET e UTCI; e proposição de um modelo preditivo de sensação térmica para Curitiba. Da análise dos atributos urbanos e sua relação com as variáveis climáticas e a sensação térmica, concluiu-se que a orientação do cânion e o perfil vertical das fachadas são importantes para compreender o comportamento das variáveis climáticas e para propor sugestões que melhorem o conforto térmico no ambiente urbano. A análise dos índices PMV, PET e UTCI mostrou a necessidade de calibração destes índices para a avaliação da sensação térmica da população de Curitiba. Ao analisar as respostas de sensação térmica e as variáveis climáticas verificou-se que as três categorias de sensação térmica se misturam entre si, não havendo clara distinção entre o grupo de conforto e os de desconforto para o frio e para o calor, o que dificulta a definição de faixas climáticas de conforto térmico para Curitiba. Em relação aos dois métodos estatísticos utilizados para a definição do modelo de predição, a Função Discriminante Linear (FDL) apresentou melhor desempenho que o Modelo de Regressão Logístico (MRL), tendo taxa total de acerto de 53%, se mostrando adequada para a avaliação da sensação térmica da população analisada. / Urban planning and modifications in open spaces are able to promote the improvement of outdoor thermal conditions and thus qualitatively influence the use of open spaces. In this context, this research aims to analyze the thermal sensation of the population of Curitiba and propose a model for predicting thermal sensation suited to local climatic conditions. The study was carried out at the pedestrian street Rua XV de November and adjacent streets. As a whole, fifteen monitoring campaigns were carried out (14 days in the period between January and August 2009 and one day in June 2010), encompassing fifteen different urban situations. The surveys took place between 10h00 and 15h00 on week days and weather data were monitored and personal data collected, using questionnaires. The method comprised four steps: analysis of the relationship between urban characteristics and thermal sensation; analysis of observed thermal sensation vote; analysis of calculated thermal sensation expressed by the indeces PMV, PET and UTCI and proposal of a thermal sensation predictive model for Curitiba. From the analysis of urban attributes and their relationship with climatic variables and thermal sensation, it was concluded that the canyon orientation and the vertical profile of the facades are important to understand the behavior of the climatic variables and to propose suggestions to improve the thermal comfort in urban environment. The analysis of PMV, PET and UTCI indeces showed the need for calibration to evaluate the thermal sensation of the population of Curitiba. The analysis between the observed thermal sensation and the climatic variables showed that the three categories of thermal sensation are mixed among themselves, with no clear distinction between the group of comfort and cold/heat discomfort, making difficult the definition of climatic zones of thermal comfort for Curitiba. Regarding both statistical methods used to develop the thermal sensation predictive model, the Linear Discriminant Function performed better than the Logistic Regression Model and the total success rate of 53% is adequate for the thermal sensation evaluation of the population analyzed.

O emprego de sistemas passivos de condicionamento de ambientes ao invés de equipamentos de climatização artificial pode ser uma solução bastante conveniente para diminuir o gasto de eletricidade e melhorar o conforto térmico de uma edificação. Uma das técnicas usadas para a melhoria do desempenho térmico de edificações é a utilização de “Paredes Trombe”. Este é um sistema de climatização passiva que utiliza ganhos solares associados à inércia térmica de uma parede para absorver calor no período frio sem bloquear suas perdas do período quente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o potencial de aquecimento/resfriamento de um sistema de climatização passiva baseado na utilização de uma Parede Trombe. Para isso, foram construídos dois protótipos em escala reduzida, sendo um deles com Parede Trombe e o outro em alvenaria de blocos de concreto, sem o sistema passivo. As medições ocorreram em períodos frios (datas) de 2011 e no período de verão de 2012, para configurações distintas da Parede Trombe. Os resultados mostraram que a Parede Trombe teve um resultado positivo tanto para o inverno quanto para o verão. / The use of passive solar heating for achieving thermal comfort inside a building is a very convenient solution to reduce the cost of electricity. One of the techniques used to improve the thermal performance of buildings is using "Trombe Walls." This is a passive solar heating system that uses solar gains associated with the thermal inertia of a wall to absorb heat during cold periods without blocking their loss in the warm period. This research aims to analyze the potential for heating and cooling of a Trombe Wall. For this, two cells were built on a small scale: passive solar cell and a reference cell. The measurements took place in cold periods (dates), of 2011 and during the summer of 2012, for different configurations of the Trombe Wall. The results showed that the Trombe Wall had a positive result for both winter and summer.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Over the past two decades, northern parts of the United States have experienced extreme heat conditions. Some of the notable heat wave impacts have occurred in Chicago in 1995 with over 600 reported deaths and in Philadelphia in 1993 with over 180 reported deaths. The distribution of extreme heat events in Indianapolis has varied since the year 2000. The Urban Heat Island effect has caused the temperatures to rise unusually high during the summer months. Although the number of reported deaths in Indianapolis is smaller when compared to Chicago and Philadelphia, the heat wave in the year 2010 affected primarily the vulnerable population comprised of the elderly and the lower socio-economic groups. Studying the spatial distribution of high temperatures in the vulnerable areas helps determine not only the extent of the heat affected areas, but also to devise strategies and methods to plan, mitigate, and tackle extreme heat. In addition, examining spatial patterns of vulnerability can aid in development of a heat warning system to alert the populations at risk during extreme heat events. This study focuses on the qualitative and quantitative methods used to measure extreme heat events. Land surface temperatures obtained from the Landsat TM images provide useful means by which the spatial distribution of temperatures can be studied in relation to the temporal changes and socioeconomic vulnerability. The percentile method used, helps to determine the vulnerable areas and their extents. The maximum temperatures measured using LST conversion of the original digital number values of the Landsat TM images is reliable in terms of identifying the heat-affected regions.