Sensitivity analysis of building material, ground material, and tree parameters in microclimate simulations

Abstract

Understanding urban microclimates is crucial amid rapid urbanization and climate change. Studying these microclimates through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations allows researchers to analyze various urban design scenarios. However, setting up building, ground material, and tree parameters in simulations is essential yet challenging. This study investigates the impact of these three parameter categories using sensitivity analysis to understand their influence on microclimate simulation outputs.

We validated ENVI-met's simulation results by comparing them with monitoring data from two sites in Taipei City and analyzed the sensitivity results using box plots with pair-wise comparisons. The findings show that wall reflectivity, ground albedo, leaf area density, and soil moisture significantly impact air and mean radiant temperatures. Soil moisture has the most pronounced effect on air temperature, while reflectivity and albedo significantly affect mean radiant temperature. Additionally, the interactions between parameters require more attention as they complexly affect the simulation outputs.

Addressing these factors can enhance the accuracy of microclimate simulations, leading to better-informed urban design decisions. This study highlights these critical factors and provides insights for improving urban microclimate simulations.