Abstract
The urban morphology affects the microclimate of the city and thus influences the activity patterns in public spaces in cities and residential areas. The presence of buildings in cities modifies natural wind conditions at microclimatic scales. Different buildings arrangement produces different aerodynamic obstacle and decreases wind velocity at a regional scale. However, at microclimatic scale buildings can cause a significant increase in wind velocity, for example, wind velocity around skyscrapers is quite high. The main reasons for outdoor discomfort in Dublin are precipitation occurring throughout the year and consistently high annual wind speed. The selected urban space, the Dublin Docklands, is near Dublin port, pedestrians experience strong gust on the corners of the buildings, some open spaces and wide streets, which is because docklands faces the prevailing west wind and east gust from the sea, and high-rise buildings nearby. The present study analyzes the wind comfort at the pedestrian level in docklands and provides general guidelines for wind microclimate studies required as the principle of the new development proposals in Dublin. Wind speed and wind pressure in docklands is examined by PHOENICS, one of the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis software. Using CFD can allow to resolve the transfer of heat and mass and their interaction with individual obstacles such as buildings. The present study firstly analyzes the wind comfort in the built-up area in Dublin docklands to propose the design guidelines for wind comfort at the pedestrian level. Connecting to the City Centre by the vibrant docklands quarter. It is significant to take wind comfort into consideration because compared to other areas, docklands is facing stronger winds due to closer to Dublin Bay. This thesis aims to examine the extent to which urban planning and the resulting urban form of the built environment influence affects local wind comfort created. It also proposes design guidelines considering wind comfort to facilitate exercising long-term outdoor activities in public spaces.
