A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study

Yasser Ibrahim; Tristan Kershaw; Paul Shepherd

A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study

Yasser Ibrahim, Tristan Kershaw, Paul Shepherd

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding

10 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Over the last decade, outdoor thermal comfort has become of considerable significance to urban designers and planners. In that concern, parametric design models were acknowledged for supporting the design process with iterative performance-based solutions and for being relatively less time and resource consuming. However, validation studies for such parametric models on the outdoor urban scale are lacking. Meanwhile, studies concerned with geometry optimisation are computationally expensive due to the time required per each simulation. This paper consequently investigates the accuracy and time efficiency of using the workflow comprising the environmental analysis Ladybug-tools, the plugins of Grasshopper3D for modelling the outdoor microclimate. The study verifies the model's results against the microclimate CFD simulation tool, ENVI-met. The two models are compared in terms of two environmental metrics, the mean radiant temperature and the universal thermal climate index. In this paper, three hypothetical layouts representing basic urban geometry patterns, namely linear, dotted, and courtyard, are simulated in both models. Results show an acceptable range of consistency between Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met, particularly during the hours 8 am to 5 pm. Timewise, Ladybug-tools show their capabilities of not only modelling the microclimate but also their suitability for optimisation studies characterised by a vast number of design solutions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings
Editors	Jorge Rodriguez Alvarez, Joana Carla Soares Goncalves, Joana Carla Soares Goncalves, Joana Carla Soares Goncalves
Publisher	University of A Coruna and Asoc
Pages	1035-1040
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9788497497947
Publication status	Published - 3 Sept 2020
Event	35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, PLEA 2020 - A Coruna, Spain Duration: 1 Sept 2020 → 3 Sept 2020

Publication series

Name	PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings
Volume	2

Conference

Conference	35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, PLEA 2020
Country/Territory	Spain
City	A Coruna
Period	1/09/20 → 3/09/20

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings.

Funding

As discussed, the accuracy of the Ladybug-Tools model is mostly a function of the radiation components determined through a set of Python functions describing the MENEX and SolarCal models. While the latter was initially designed for the indoor environments, future work includes intervening with the source code so as for a more accurate representation for the outdoor conditions and less MRT deviations.

Funders	Funder number
MENEX

Keywords

ENVI-met
Ladybug-Tools
MRT
Thermal Comfort
UTCI

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Architecture
Civil and Structural Engineering
Building and Construction

Cite this

Ibrahim, Y., Kershaw, T., & Shepherd, P. (2020). A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study. In J. R. Alvarez, J. C. S. Goncalves, J. C. S. Goncalves, & J. C. S. Goncalves (Eds.), PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings (pp. 1035-1040). (PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings; Vol. 2). University of A Coruna and Asoc.

A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study. / Ibrahim, Yasser; Kershaw, Tristan ; Shepherd, Paul.
PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings. ed. / Jorge Rodriguez Alvarez; Joana Carla Soares Goncalves; Joana Carla Soares Goncalves; Joana Carla Soares Goncalves. University of A Coruna and Asoc, 2020. p. 1035-1040 (PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings; Vol. 2).

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding

Ibrahim, Y, Kershaw, T & Shepherd, P 2020, A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study. in JR Alvarez, JCS Goncalves, JCS Goncalves & JCS Goncalves (eds), PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings. PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings, vol. 2, University of A Coruna and Asoc, pp. 1035-1040, 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, PLEA 2020, A Coruna, Spain, 1/09/20.

Ibrahim Y, Kershaw T , Shepherd P. A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study. In Alvarez JR, Goncalves JCS, Goncalves JCS, Goncalves JCS, editors, PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings. University of A Coruna and Asoc. 2020. p. 1035-1040. (PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings).

Ibrahim, Yasser ; Kershaw, Tristan ; Shepherd, Paul. / A methodology For Modelling Microclimates : A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study. PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings. editor / Jorge Rodriguez Alvarez ; Joana Carla Soares Goncalves ; Joana Carla Soares Goncalves ; Joana Carla Soares Goncalves. University of A Coruna and Asoc, 2020. pp. 1035-1040 (PLEA 2020 - 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Planning Post Carbon Cities, Proceedings).

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A methodology For Modelling Microclimates: A Ladybug-tools and ENVI-met verification study

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Cite this