Development of a bioclimatic wind rose tool for assessment of comfort wind resources in Sydney, Australia for 2013 and 2030

This study assessed the effect of wind on human thermal comfort by preforming outdoor urban climatic comfort simulations using state-of-the-art heat-balance models of human thermo-physiology (Universal Thermal Climate Index—UTCI). A series of simulations for computing “wind cooling potential” have been performed using the UTCI index temperatures. The comfort cooling effect of wind has been estimated by modelling with wind taken into account, and under calm wind (0.05 m/s) (ΔUTCI). A novel wind rose biometeorological data visualisation tool that integrates an additional thermal comfort dimension into the conventional climatology wind rose visualisation was developed in this study. The new wind rose graphic tool identifies “predominant” wind directions, and whether or not they are “desirable” from the human thermal comfort point of view. This tool’s utility lies in its identification of the optimal building orientation in its surrounding urban morphology, based on the cooling potential of wind resources when enhanced ventilation is desirable for thermal comfort.