Weatherpark is involved in two new funded research projects. Lead partner in both cases is the AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology), which is in charge of handling and coordinating the researching organizations. Further partners are, among others, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology and companies PlanSinn and Green4Cities.
Photo by Robin Benzrihem on Unsplash
The “LiLa4Green” project explores how “green oases” (parks, open squares, green areas, greenery in streetscapes, green facades) can be established despite high population density and utilisation in the city, for parts of Vienna’s 10th city district. Weatherpark is in charge of analysing meteorological data micro climatically. For this purpose, two meteorological scenarios with typical values for air temperature, solar radiation, air humidity and wind speed as well as wind direction were defined: one for a typical day within a heat wave and one for an extreme day within a heat wave. After this, Weatherpark will establish a visual scale for measuring the degree of comfort as perceived, in which areas inviting to linger and those which are generally avoided during a heat wave are depicted differently.
“LiLa4Green” is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) as part of the programme „Smart Cities Demos“. Aim of the programme is to provide comprehensive approaches to maintain resp. to improve urban quality of life for future generations.
The second research project “CLUDEX” studies the climatic consequences when full advantage is taken of zoning regulations. Often properties are zones as 5 storey buildings but are erected only as 3 storey building. For this project, Weatherpark is developing a wind climate simulation for sections of Meidling (Vienna’s 12th city district) which will present climatic effects of maximum building height. Due to the rise in number of hot days, the consequences of higher construction on fresh air corridors of the city, ventilation and local temperature (“heat islands”) are particularly interesting. The project is unded by the ACRP (Austrian Climate Research Programme), which provides grant funds for climate impact research.
First findings of both projects are due in 2018. Final results are expected in 2021 (“LiLa4Green”) and 2020 (“CLUDEX”).
Link to Lead Partner AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology) https://www.ait.ac.at/en/
Link to the official „LiLa4Green“ site: https://www.ait.ac.at/themen/smart-and-resilient-cities/projects/lila4green/
Link to the official „CLUDEX“ site: https://www.ait.ac.at/themen/smart-and-resilient-cities/projects/cludex/