Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 2(8), pp. 284 - 303
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2014.020802
Reprint (PDF) (3524Kb)

Outdoor Microclimate Observation for Thermal Comfort in Harsh Desert Condition: A Study in Kashan Iran

Mansoureh Tahbaz ^*, Sharbanoo Djalilian , Fatemeh Mousavi
School of Architecture, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, 19834, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

Traditional architecture of the historical cities of Iran contains valuable lessons related to architecture and urban design. A group of these strategies are those used in outdoor urban spaces in desert cities providing a safe and sustainable microclimate for pedestrian. This research paper will highlight some of these strategies by doing a field study research in hot summer and cold winter in Kashan, a historical city of Esfahan Province. The weather data are collected in 11-12 July 2011 and 11-12 Jan 2012 by a mobile Kestrel Personal Weather station in the traditional part of the city. The collected data are analyzed for human thermal condition by UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index) on the psychrometric chart. The different thermal zones on this chart are compared with people's behaviour according to their exposure time, clothing and activity. The collected weather data of observation days are compared in four levels of long-term meso climate, short-term meso climate, local climate and microclimate. To speed up the analyzing process a new software is designed called SIKRON. The result of this research has shown the effect of architectural strategies on modifying the microclimate condition in hot summer and cold winter for outdoor living in hot-arid climate.

KEYWORDS
Microclimate, Local Climate, Meso Climate, Outdoor Thermal Condition, UTCI, Historical City

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Mansoureh Tahbaz , Sharbanoo Djalilian , Fatemeh Mousavi , "Outdoor Microclimate Observation for Thermal Comfort in Harsh Desert Condition: A Study in Kashan Iran," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 2, No. 8, pp. 284 - 303, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2014.020802.

(b). APA Format:
Mansoureh Tahbaz , Sharbanoo Djalilian , Fatemeh Mousavi (2014). Outdoor Microclimate Observation for Thermal Comfort in Harsh Desert Condition: A Study in Kashan Iran. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 2(8), 284 - 303. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2014.020802.