Assessment of Spatial Thermal Comfort Indices using URock and SOLWEIG in KMUTT area - Bangmod Campus

Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. Structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies. Heat islands increase demand for air conditioning to cool buildings. In addition, Heat islands contribute to higher daytime temperatures, reduced nighttime cooling, and higher air-pollution levels. These, in turn, contribute to heat-related deaths and heat-related illnesses such as general discomfort, respiratory difficulties, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and non-fatal heat stroke. Thai government pledges to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and to achieve net-zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission by 2065. King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) aims to be a part of Thailand’s achievement of Carbon Neutrality Goals and announced on November 2, 2021 the declaration of intent ‘KMUTT Carbon Neutrality 2040. So Cool KMUTT working group is a part of KMUTT Carbon Neutrality policy. In this study, URock is used to calculate the 3D wind field in KMUTT – Bangmod campus area using information about the wind (speed and direction) and geographical data describing the area (building, vegetation and height). Solar and LongWave Environmental Irradiance Geometry mode (SOLWEIG) simulates spatial variation of 3D radiation fluxes and the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt). Data collected include air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and globe temperature area. Both models are used to assess the spatial thermal comfort indices, including Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and Comfort Formula (COMFA). Three cases, that comprise of one current status, namely 1. Base Case (BC) and two So Cool KMUTT mitigation options: 2. Cool Pavement Case (CPC) and 3. Green Space Case (GSC), are studied. The study found that for whole area, the mean value of PET, UTCI and COMFA have very little improvement from BC. The main reason of less impact due to little implementation area of CPC and GSC. Moreover, we investigate two specific locations (LG carpark and FIBO carpark). The results depict that CPC and GSC can decrease significantly the PET, UTCI and COMFA. This study offers practical guidance for urban planners, designers and help them better account for thermal comfort when designing outdoor spaces, thereby enhancing human well-being.