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Abstract: The urbanization and the deficiencies in proper development control have as consequence the environment''s degradation in urban centres and the change of microclimatic conditions. So, the urban microclimate of densely built areas is characterized by higher temperatures than the temperature of the suburbs and surrounding areas. Heating of the atmosphere and surfaces in urban areas compared to their surroundings is the phenomenon which is called urban heat island (UHI). The effect of building''s volume is considered as one of the main reasons for the urban heat island effect. Buildings, roads and paved surfaces, store the heat during the day and then release it slowly during the evening keeping the air temperature of the city hotter than surrounding areas. In other words, urban heat island cause thermal discomfort and it is responsible for the increase of energy demand in the buildings. This paper presents a study that aims at investigating the influence of urban morphology in microclimatic conditions. The investigation is carried out in Thessaloniki, Greece. The purpose of the research project is to measure how the temperature of building''s surfaces vary and interact during the day and according to the microclimatic parameters. There is a daily measurement of the examinated factors. Street orientation and configuration of the building blocks (height of buildings, width of road) are also important factors for the analysis of the measurements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes the stochastic prediction of the hourly profile of the intensity of the global solar radiation, I(h; nj ) for any day nj at a site. The prediction model requires one, two, or three morning measurements of the global solar radiation in a day nj , makes use of a rich data bank of past years recorded data, and provides I(h; nj ) values for the rest hours of the day. The model is validated by comparing the I(h; nj ) profiles generated for Patra, Greece, with the solar radiation measurements recorded for Winter, Autumn and Spring days, when solar radiation fluctuations often appear to be strong, while also comparing with the predicted by the METEONORM package I(h; nj ) profile. Conclusions are deducted for the predictive power of the model. The proposed model, which is developed in MATLAB for the purpose of this research, provides I(h; nj ) profile predictions very close to the measured values and offers itself as a promising tool for a predictive on-line daily load management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]