Analysis of the Effects of Floor Area Ratio Change in Urban Street Canyons on Microclimate and Particulate Matter

Abstract

Air pollution, such as particulate matter (PM), and extreme weather are causing increasingly complex problems and socioeconomic damage in urban environments year-round. This study predicts extreme weather and air pollution changes that occur in urban street canyons as the basic data necessary for research on energy conservation. Changes in PM and microclimate elements based on the change in floor area ratio are analyzed. In addition, the effects of microclimate elements on the distribution of PM factors are examined. Based on the change in floor area ratio, high-concentration PM was negatively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, NOx, Ta, Tmrt, and Tsurface. Extreme heat was observed to be negatively correlated with Tmrt and Tsurface, and extreme cold negatively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx. The higher the floor area ratio, the higher the wind speed (WS), indicating a positive correlation between the two factors. Ta, Tmrt, and Tsurface were observed to be negatively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx. WS showed negative correlations with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx. The results of this study can be used as basic data for the derivation of evaluation indices and to determine prediction and response strategies with respect to a combination of extreme weather and air pollution to ensure a suitable and sustainable quality of life. This study helps predict energy loads according to urban street canyon structures and examines whether trees and green walls are effective in reducing extreme weather and air pollution and saving energy.

Keywords

• floor area ratio
• extreme weather
• Envi-met
• particulate matter
• urban street canyons
• microclimate