Characterization of the local wind in the morphology of the historic center of Quito (Ecuador)

Abstract

The local wind affects the urban microclimate, where buildings cause the wind to lose intensity when it reaches streets and squares, affecting ventilation and pedestrian comfort. The present study aims to evaluate the pedestrian wind behavior using morphometry, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and ventilation indicators for an area of the historic center of Quito within a 400 m radius. The model shows urban canyons with northward orientations of 40° and 125°. Urban canyons are modeled based on their geometry to define the H/W ratio. Subsequently, simulations are carried out considering the prevailing wind in the area during the day (6:00-12:00) and afternoon (12:00-18:00) periods. The simulations show a pedestrian wind speed between 0,8 and 1,2 m/s, which results in a thermal reduction of 2°C. In addition, ventilation indicators show better performance in shallower canyons.