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Evaluation Schoolyard Wind Comfort Changes Due to Rapid Developments: Case Study of Nanjing, China

Authors :
Qiuxia Xu
Zhen Xu
Chayn Sun
Source :
Atmosphere, Vol 13, Iss 1, p 43 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

(1) Background: Evaluation of wind environments regarding pedestrian comfort may unveil potential hotspot areas, particularly in the context of the rapid urban development in China since the 1990s. (2) Method: With primary schools in Nanjing as case studies, the authors simulated the wind environment of schoolyards with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach and evaluated relevant wind comfort criteria. (3) Results: The study showed that the comfortable wind environment of schoolyards generally expanded in three primary schools in summer and winter, and wind speed and the comfortable wind level decreased in some outdoor schoolyard spaces. The results also indicate that the mean wind speed of the schoolyards did not linearly correlate to the building density either within or outside the schools. An increase in the building height of the primary schools could improve the wind comfort of the schoolyard, but the increased building height in the vicinity may worsen the wind comfort in the schools. Meanwhile, a lift-up or step-shaped building design for schools can improve wind comfort in schoolyards. (4) Conclusions: This study provided simulated results and an approach for urban designers to evaluate and improve the wind environment for school children’s outdoor activities.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20734433
Volume :
13
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Atmosphere
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.bf36dd3668c4466093c607dff0149f53
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13010043