CERC — Environmental Software and Services
Urban environment
Temperature variations relative to ambient (°C)
Local temperature variations on a late summer afternoon
With climate change and rapid urbanisation, the influence of the built environment on local temperature and humidity levels is of increasing interest. Policy makers and planners must consider mitigation strategies for urban heat islands that develop during the summer months and make life uncomfortable for residents of cities worldwide.
For many years, we have used our ADMS Temperature and Humidity model to investigate the impact of building properties on local temperatures. We can propose answers to questions such as:
- What is the impact on the local climate of converting this green space into housing (or vice versa)?
- How effective are green and cool roofs on reducing local temperatures?
- What impact does the building fabric and reflectivity have on the local climate?
CERC’s expertise in this field led to our development of a local temperature forecasting system for the Olympic Park, active during the London 2012 Olympics.