Urban Thermodynamics

Summary

This course introduces the analysis of urban areas from a thermodynamics perspective, considering the heat exchange between different urban elements (buildings, vegetation, water surfaces, ground, and environment). Urban heat island effect and outdoor comfort topics are also discussed.

Content

Keywords

Urban heat exchange, urban atmosphere/boundary layer, urban elements interaction, environmental impact, built environment, urban green areas and water bodies, urban heat island (UHI) effect, outdoor thermal comfort

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

• General physics: thermodynamics PHYS-106

Recommended courses

• Fluid mechanics (for GC) CIVIL-210
• Fundamentals of indoor climate CIVIL-221

Important concepts to start the course

Heat transfer modes (convection, conduction, radiation)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Assess / Evaluate heat distribution in urban zones
• Critique the choice of urban materials and design and propose alternative solutions
• Analyze various modes of heat transfer in urban environment
• Carry out thermodynamic analysis at urban scale
• Examine the effect of the outdoor built environment on human comfort
• Assess / Evaluate surface energy balance at various urban surfaces

Transversal skills

• Assess one's own level of skill acquisition, and plan their on-going learning goals.
• Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
• Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra and exercises in class

Expected student activities

Participate in lectures and exercise sessions

Assessment methods

Three written tests: 30%+45%+25%

Supervision

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

• T.R. Oke, G.Mills, A. Christensen, J.A. Vooght, Urban Climates, Cambridge University Press
• S. Medved, Building Physics: Heat, Ventilation, Moisture, Light, Sound, Fire, and Urban Microclimate, Springer
• A. Rodrigues, R.A. Sardinha, G. Pita, Fundamental Principles of Environmental Physics, Springer
• N. Mason, P. Hughes, Introduction to Environmental Physics: Planet Earth, Life and Climate, Taylor & Francis

Ressources en bibliothèque

• T.R. Oke, G.Mills, A. Christensen, J.A. Vooght, Urban Climates, Cambridge University
• S. Medved, Building Physics: Heat, Ventilation, Moisture, Light, Sound, Fire, and Urban Microclimate, Springer
• N. Mason, P. Hughes, Introduction to Environmental Physics: Planet Earth, Life and Climate, Taylor & Francis
• A. Rodrigues, R.A. Sardinha, G. Pita, Fundamental Principles of Environmental Physics, Springer

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/CIVIL-309

Prerequisite for

• Building energetics ENG-445
• Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings CIVIL-450

NB: ce cours ne sera pas dispensé en 2023-2024