3.2 The Most Employed Methodologies in Urban Planning Studies
3.2.3 The Computer Simulation Software
Recently, software simulation has been widely used in exploring and studying the thermal behaviour of the built environment, some of these software programs provide an accurate prediction of the microclimate and outdoor thermal behaviour, such as ENVI-Met, ANSYS- FLUENT and GIS. Other software programs provide more detail in presenting indoor energy performance, such as IES-VEIES-VE, ECOTECT, and Design Builder-Energy Plus.
In urban studies, computer software is generally used for modelling, simulating, analysing and evaluating the selected case study area or abase case and the proposed scenarios (Bruse, 1999; Ozkeresteci et al., 2003;Taleb and Abu-Hijleh, 2012; Andreou, 2014).
3.2.3.1 Outdoor Microclimate Simulation Software
The outdoor simulation software is generally used to simulate the outdoor geometrical and environmental variables, and to predict the urban microclimate parameters. This type of software used to provide the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation that allows the analysis of the microclimate changes according to any change in urban geometry or buildings configuration. A wide range of environmental parameters could be predicted using the outdoor simulation software, such as solar shading, solar gain, air temperature, air flow, wind speed, humidity and air pollution. Some of the most widely used software programs for outdoor simulation are ENVI-MET, City Cad, GIS, Urba Wind and ECOTECT (Bruse, 1999;
Ozkeresteci et al., 2003; Kruger, Minella, and Rasia, 2010; Andreou, 2011; Taleb and Abu- Hijleh, 2012; Gill et al., 2013).
ENVI-MET is one of the most used software programs for CFD analysis, and microclimate parameters prediction. The accuracy and validity of the ENVI-MET program has been proved in many studies and publications (Bruse, 1999; Ozkeresteci et al., 2003; Gill et al., 2013). In additional to microclimate parameters, Kruger, Minella, and Rasia (2010)used the ENVI- MET software to simulate four scenarios of wind speed in order to identify the effect of each
103 scenario on NO2 concentration. On the other hand, Chen and Ng (2011) used the GIS software to analyse and evaluate the effect of SVF on microclimate parameters in Honk Kong. The researchers adopted the 'Digital Elevation Model (DEM)' to generate a 'Climatic Map' that provides a virtual evaluation and supporting tool for urban planners and decision makers (Figure 3.3).
Figure 3.3: Thermal load distribution and wind map using DEM data and GIS (Chen and Ng, 2011)
However, most of the outdoor simulation software programs do not have the capability to analyse and predict indoor thermal performance parameters. In order to identify the influence of urban geometry variables on indoor energy performance, another type of software is required. The integration between the two types of the software has recently been used to identify the effect of outdoor microclimate parameters on indoor energy consumption (Yang et al., 2012; Berardi, 2016). Most of the previous studies used the field measurement and empirical data as an input data for simulating indoor energy performance and for predicting the effect of the outdoor microclimate (Sun and Augenbroe, 2014; Magli et al., 2014; Al Znafer, 2014).
104 Yang et al. (2012) integrated two simulation software programs, ENVI-MET and Energy Plus to conduct a quantitative analysis, and to identify the effect of the surrounding microclimate on the energy performance of individual building within a complex.
The researchers included effective microclimate factors, covering solar radiation, air temperature, humidity and wind speed, in their study to explore the effect of these factors on
building energy consumption. Figure 3.4 shows the detailed method of integrating ENVI-MET and Energy Plus software.
Figure 3.4: The method of coupling ENVI-MET and Energy Plus software (Yang et al., 2012)
3.2.3.2 Indoor Thermal Performance Simulation Software
Recently, software simulation has been widely used in studying the energy performance of the built environment (Stromann-Andersen and Sattrup, 2011; Taleb, 2014; Li, Quan and Yang, 2016). The Integrated Environmental Solution- Virtual Environment IES-VE, Designer Builder - Energy Plus, ECOTECT, are among the most widely used software programs for
indoor thermal performance studies. These software wide variety of indoor thermal
daylight analysis, humidity, CO (Muhaisen and Gadi, 2006; Stromann
2012; Taleb, 2014). In the published paper that addressed the effect of courtyard residential buildings in the UAE, Al
to explore the variation in two environmental parameters
energy consumption. Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the effect of different types of glazing, wall thickness and insulation materials on these two parameters.
On the other hand, the paper published by Hammad and
effect of using the external dynamic louvers on south, east and west facade building in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The researchers explored there
consumption of cooling and lighting energy consumption for each facade orientation and louvers option (Figures 3.5 a and b).
indoor thermal performance studies. These software programs are generally used to obtain a wide variety of indoor thermal performance parameters, such as air temperature, solar gain, daylight analysis, humidity, CO2 emission, air ventilation, cooling and heating load
Stromann-Andersen and Sattrup, 2011; Al-Masri and Abu 2014). In the published paper that addressed the effect of courtyard residential buildings in the UAE, Al-Masri and Abu-Hijleh (2012) used the
ore the variation in two environmental parameters: daylight factor and cooling load energy consumption. Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the effect of different types of glazing, wall thickness and insulation materials on these two parameters.
the paper published by Hammad and Abu-Hijleh (2010) illustrated the the external dynamic louvers on south, east and west facade
UAE. The researchers explored there reduction in energy cooling and lighting energy consumption for each facade orientation and louvers option (Figures 3.5 a and b).
a) Cooling load consumption
105 generally used to obtain a such as air temperature, solar gain, emission, air ventilation, cooling and heating load Masri and Abu-Hijleh, 2014). In the published paper that addressed the effect of courtyards in Hijleh (2012) used the IES-VE software daylight factor and cooling load energy consumption. Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the effect of different types of
Hijleh (2010) illustrated the the external dynamic louvers on south, east and west facades in an office duction in energy cooling and lighting energy consumption for each facade orientation and
Figure 3.5: IES simulation software and output parameters (Hammad and
In the same context, the effect of passive cooling strategies on residential villas in the UAE was explored in paper published by
adopted to simulate the passive cooling strategies effect on three environmental parameters namely: air temperature, cooling load and energy consumption. Muhaisen and Gadi (2005) used the IES-VE software to investigate the effect
solar gain and energy demand in Rome, Italy. The energy demand was expressed by heating and cooling load as one of the IES
effect of ten courtyard ratios on co
Further to that, the researchers adopted the Sun Cast application of the software to conduct a shading analysis for each proposed proportion of the courtyard in the two main seasons, summer and winter. Other than that, Stromann
software to study the effect of the dense area on solar gain and daylight factor using the Sun Cast and Radiance applications of the
b) lighting consumption
Figure 3.5: IES simulation software and output parameters (Hammad and Abu
In the same context, the effect of passive cooling strategies on residential villas in the UAE was explored in paper published by Taleb (2014). In this paper the IES
adopted to simulate the passive cooling strategies effect on three environmental parameters namely: air temperature, cooling load and energy consumption. Muhaisen and Gadi (2005) VE software to investigate the effect of different proportions of the courtyard on solar gain and energy demand in Rome, Italy. The energy demand was expressed by heating and cooling load as one of the IES-VE software output parameters. Figure 3.6 shows the effect of ten courtyard ratios on cooling and heating load using IES-VE.
Further to that, the researchers adopted the Sun Cast application of the software to conduct a shading analysis for each proposed proportion of the courtyard in the two main seasons, Other than that, Stromann-Andersen and Sattrup (2014) used the software to study the effect of the dense area on solar gain and daylight factor using the Sun Cast and Radiance applications of the IES-VE software.
106 Abu-Hijleh, 2010)
In the same context, the effect of passive cooling strategies on residential villas in the UAE r the IES-VE software was adopted to simulate the passive cooling strategies effect on three environmental parameters namely: air temperature, cooling load and energy consumption. Muhaisen and Gadi (2005) of different proportions of the courtyard on solar gain and energy demand in Rome, Italy. The energy demand was expressed by heating VE software output parameters. Figure 3.6 shows the
Further to that, the researchers adopted the Sun Cast application of the software to conduct a shading analysis for each proposed proportion of the courtyard in the two main seasons, Andersen and Sattrup (2014) used the software to study the effect of the dense area on solar gain and daylight factor using the Sun
107 Figure 3.6: The effect of 10 courtyard ratios on cooling and heating load using IES-VE
(Muhaisen and Gadi, 2005)
The researchers explored the effect of these two factors on energy consumption of office buildings in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, ECOTECT software is another program that is used for simulating, analysing and evaluating the effect of building geometry. It provides a wide range of outdoor and indoor outcome parameters. The parameters cover shading effects, solar gain, air temperature, daylight analysis, CO2 emission, cooling and heating load. In addition to providing a water usage estimation and analysis, and acoustic analysis. Figure 3.7shows the daylight factor analysis using ECOTECT software (Andreou, 2011).
Figure 3.7: Daylight factor analysis in the canyon between office buildings for two working hours a) 8am and b) 5pm (Andreou, 2011).
108 Energy Plus is another energy performance simulation software. The software is used to predict the indoor thermal performance parameters, such as air temperature, air ventilation, HVAC system, glare and luminance calculations. Berardi (2016) used field measurements and Energy Plus software in a study conducted in Toronto, Canada.
The research aimed to explore the effect of green roofs on buildings energy consumption.
The collected data represents different types of green roof. The researcher used this data as an input data for running Energy Plus software, and predicting indoor thermal performance. The research concluded with the effect of each roof type on monthly and annual energy saving (Figure 3.8).
Figure 3.8: Monthly and annual energy saving for different types of green roofs using Energy Plus software (Berardi, 2016)
109