MLAR Lab

The objective of this proposal is to develop an innovative index by integrating multi-dimensions of heat vulnerable indicators to reveal heat vulnerable population and locations, as well as a spatial decision support system to promote heat-related policymaking processes among different stakeholders.

This study will evaluate both the physical thermal environment of schoolyards and children’s thermal comfort levels for a current and future climate scenario. Climate-resilient design solutions for schoolyards will be provided. The thermal outcomes after design, referring to microclimate condition and children’s thermal comfort level of schoolyards will be simulated. Design suggestions and guidelines will be proposed and will account for children’s thermal comfort and thermal equity.

Research on urban canyon impacts have investigated the role of building configurations in urban air flow and dispersal. Landscape designxiii,xiv can assist in street canyon pollutant dispersal and outdoor thermal environment management. But due to the lack of real-time GHG and meteorological data, current design methods cannot incorporate comprehensive spatial and temporal information about thermal and air quality. Leveraging 4D data assimilation/source attribution and modeling systems, we will produce new “data-driven” climate-resilient community designs to offer more thermally comfortable and healthy outdoor environment.

A compact and portable weather station with high quality sensors will increase metrological researchers’ working efficiency of field measurements. It can also be easily applied and installed in urban and rural locations (building faced, trees, playground, paddy field etc.) for various research purposes. This project focuses on meteorological sensors assembling with electronic prototyping platform (e.g. Arduino), meteorological device development and making (cylindrical radiometer and 6-directional UVR sensor), and data monitoring and collecting.