Microclimate assessment through the radiant heat exchange experienced by their inhabitants

GANEM, CAROLINA; BAREA, GUSTAVO

La Serena

Congreso; 4ª Conferencia Internacional ESP de América Latina y el Caribe; 2023

Mendoza is located in a semi-arid continental climate with low percentages of atmospheric relative humidity and high heliophany. The city's urban checkered structure intermingles three types of meshes that overlap in space: a water network, a green mesh and regular orthogonal grid that supports dwellings. Vernacular architecture presents intermediate spaces as an adaptation to thermal variations that can reach daily differences of 20°C. Courtyards, terraces and balconies combine to form green square centers, that add up to the city structure to conform a unique urban ecosystem that regulates the local microclimate.Nowadays, this livable city is slowly losing its valuable microclimatic strengths. This is due to new designs that do not respect the system architectural logic or the dimensional relationships between components. Another impact factor is the intense urbanization process that is producing a severe contraction of green and open spaces.The aim of this work is the comparison between case studies in which the conditions of urban microclimatic moderation through greenery are still maintained, and new cases in which the particular imprint of this city has not been respected. An analysis of the microclimatic conditions of intermediate spaces will be carried out, focusing on the radiant heat exchange experienced by their inhabitants.Methodologically, from a geometrical approach a panoramic thermogram is assembled, which enables all directions to be seen from one position. This provides precise information on the influence of each visible surface of the scene at the measurement point allowing the quantification and better understanding of the mean radiant temperature in each case.Results are enlightening of the phenomena and the need to protect Mendoza’s unique urban ecosystem. As the behavior of the infrared component is not intuitive, this non-invasive method is a useful tool for decision makers and urban planners.