Design for outdoor in a hot & dry climate: a study of outdoor thermal comfort in Dubai, UAE
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Date
2009-06
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
With the growing interest on sustainability, design consideration for
thermal comfort in the outdoors is seen as an important factor enhancing the
quality of life in the urban setting. The topic has received significant interest and
several studies have been made in mostly temperate and tropical climates.
However, not much investigation into the matter has been done in hot-arid
climates characteristic to that of the middle-eastern countries. The study then
aimed to understand the relationships between the several factors (air temperature,
solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed, clothing and activity) affecting
thermal comfort, determine the actual comfort zone for Dubai UAE through field
measurements and interview surveys, and recommend design considerations to
achieve thermal comfort.
The findings of the study show that majority of the sample population in
Dubai reported overall thermal comfort for the three seasons observed. Solar
radiation has most direct influence on thermal comfort outdoors thus it is
recommended that shading be of primary consideration during summer. It was
also found that relative humidity is an amplifying factor for air temperature. Wind
should be accounted for its cooling effect thus high wind speeds are encouraged
during summer while protection from this must be provided during winter.
Contrary to the common notion that middle eastern climate is very harsh and that
thermal comfort could only be achieved in a controlled indoor environment, the
study shows that with proper design consideration of the findings in the study, it is
possible to achieve thermal comfort for outdoors in Dubai for longer periods of
the year.
Description
DISSERTATION WITH DISTINCTION
Keywords
outdoor, sustainability, urban design, thermal comfort, cooling, climate