Analysis of the influence of urban form and materials on sensible heat flux - a case study of Japan's largest housing development "Tama New Town"

In this study, the relationship between the form and materials of urban blo cks and sensible heat flux from total surfaces was analyzed in the case of 'Tama New Town', which is one of the largest housing developments in Japan and is under continuing development. First, urban blocks were divided into five categories depending on the building plot types. The characteristics o f the form and thermal properties of each building, as well as the land cov er condition (area of vegetation, bare soil, asphalt pavement, and built ar ea) of each category was considered. Furthermore, 6 urban blocks were selec ted for numerical simulation of heat balance of the total surfaces, and sen sible heat flux From the total surfaces of each urban block on clear sky su mmer day was calculated. It was confirmed that the influence of the directi on that buildings faced and floor area ratio was as great as that of buildi ng materials upon the amount of sensible heat flux in each urban block. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.