BC3 Seminars: Methodologies to analyze Urban Climate and improve thermal comfort from a planning perspective: the case of Bilbao

BC3 Seminars
“Methodologies to analyze Urban Climate and improve thermal comfort from a planning perspective: the case of Bilbao “

Dr. Juan Angel Acero
Environmental Department of TECNALIA

Abstract

Despite development of cities are including more sustainable aspects (e.g. reduction of energy consumption), urban climate still needs to be consolidated as an important variable in urban planning. In this sense, the analysis of urban climate requires a multi-scale approach. Results for Bilbao (Spain) are presented. In the mesoscale, an Urban Climate Map (UC-Map) is developed using a method based on GIS calculations, specific climatic measurements and urban climate expert knowledge. All the information is grouped in 5 information layers (building volume, building surface fraction, urban green areas, ventilation paths and slopes). The final UC-Map presents areas with relative homogeneous climate variables (i.e. climatopes) that are classified in terms of thermal comfort. Urban planning recommendations are defined. In the microscale, thermal comfort results extracted specofoc modelling in four urban spaces show the influence of regional climate conditions and the urban development type of each area. In both spatial scales, climate modelling should include specific measurement campaigns to validate results.

Lecturer

PhD in Natural Sciences from the University of Kassel (Germany); Title of the thesis: “Modelling the urban climate. Development of evaluation methods of the urban climate urban planning purposes”. Since his incorporation in the Environmental Department of TECNALIA in 1999, he has focused his work in Atmospheric Pollution, taking part and being responsible of a great number of studies in air quality. The more important are atmospheric pollution diagnosis, evaluation of air quality impact due to urban traffic, modelling pollutants dispersion (traffic, industry), meteorological analysis and odour studies. During the last years he has focused on urban climate and thermal comfort at different spatial scales, analysing effects of vegetation, urban morphology and typology. In this sense, he has developed the first Urban Climate Map for Planning Purpose in Bilbao. He has several relevant publications in international journals and has participated in more than 20 communications to National and International Conferences.

Referenced papers:

J.A. Acero, J. Arrizabalaga, S. Kupski, L. Katzschner (2013), Deriving an Urban Climate Map in coastal areas with complex terrain in the Basque Country (Spain), Urban Climate, Volume 4, page 35-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2013.02.002
J.A. Acero, J. Arrizabalaga, S. Kupski, L. Katzschner (2013), Urban heat island in a coastal urban area in northern Spain, Theoretical and applied Climatology, Volume 113, Issue 1, page 137-154. DOI:10.1007/s00704-012-0774-z