The Risk of Wind Effects in Cities

Abstract

The purpose of this Advanced Study Institute is to provide a summary of the present knowledge of urban climates and its application to environmental and wind engineering problems in urban areas. The knowledge of the wind climate in urban areas is the basis for the application. If design or management decisions involving urban climates are to be made, they should be founded on a good understanding of the flow processes and the temperature fields that are observed or that may occur in cities. Therefore, the first chapters of this book are devoted to the general processes of boundary layer flow in urban areas. They provide the physical background for studies of wind engineering problems. Many are associated with strong winds. They involve the determination of wind forces on structures, of pressures on roofs and claddings of buildings, and of the identification of areas where the comfort of pedestrians may be impaired through locally strong winds, or wind changes. Others occur with light winds, in particular the impairment of environmental quality, from traffic pollution, or from the releases of toxic or obnoxious gases from point or area sources.