Downdrafts in real estate: An invisible risk for pedestrians

10.09.24 12:09 PM - By Florian

Blog Articles

In this blog post, you will learn how to ensure wind comfort and wind safety in urban planning as well as detailed planning of real estate and open space to avoid downdrafts and downwashing.

Wind is an important factor in urban planning and the design of real estate and open space. It can have both positive and negative effects on the well-being of residents and users. Therefore, it is important to consider wind comfort when constructing and planning buildings, open space and squares, as well as entire urban districts.

Wind comfort and wind hazards are playing an increasingly important role in modern urban planning. Downdrafts, in particular, generated by tall buildings can pose a significant danger to pedestrians. At the same time, ventilation for heat removal, as well as the utilization of potentially available cold air flows and the supply of fresh air, are essential for cooling the city and should therefore not be negatively impacted by human activities.

But what exactly are downdrafts, and how do they affect our urban environment?

Downdrafts and downwashing in real estate

Downdrafts and downwashing occurs when air masses are forced downward along the facade of a high-rise building. These winds are strong enough to create uncomfortable or even dangerous conditions at pedestrian level. Such a phenomenon may be invisible at first glance, but it can have significant impacts on the comfort and safety of people in urban areas.

The figure (Fig. 1) shows the path the wind takes, and it is clear that winds from as high as 90 meters are carried to pedestrian level. The wind speed corresponds to 1.4 times the forecast wind speed at 10 meters.

Fig. 1 | Wind comfort and downdrafts in high-rise developments © greenpass

Designing wind-safe real estate and open space

There are various measures that can be taken to ensure pleasant wind comfort in urban planning and real estate.

A proven approach is to optimize the design of buildings and their surroundings to specifically direct and mitigate wind currents. Measures such as green facades, windbreaks, and targeted planting can effectively help minimize the negative effects of downdrafts and ensure high levels of wind comfort.

Plants can serve as natural windbreaks, thus reducing unpleasant turbulence or currents, but at the same time, they can also negatively impact the wind field as a barrier to ventilation.

With the greenpass Wind module, wind comfort and safety can be easily and effectively optimized in urban planning as well as in the detailed planning of real estate and open space.

Fig. 2 | Wind comfort in urban planning © greenpass

Pedestrian Wind Comfort Analysis

The greenpass Wind module, part of the greenpass 3D Analytics, is based on advanced CFD simulation and analysis techniques. It allows a pedestrian wind comfort analysis and potential wind hazards to be identified using meaningful indicators. These hazards can then be specifically and effectively optimized using a digital twin or simulation model to improve user comfort and quality of life for users in urban areas.

Modern software solutions and CFD flow simulations, such as the Wind Module from greenpass, allow the representation of dynamic flow behavior in order to avoid and reduce wind hazards and other phenomena, as well as to effectively optimize wind comfort and cold air streams.

Conclusion

Wind comfort plays an important role in urban planning and in the design of real estate and open space. A pleasant wind can contribute to improving the urban climate and thus also to a higher quality of life. However, potential negative impacts on wind comfort must also be considered during planning and design.

By using pedestrian wind comfort analysis and software-based solutions in combination with targeted measures, pleasant wind comfort can be achieved in the city, which benefits both residents and property users. Get started now and take advantage of the many benefits of the greenpass Wind module for wind-safe properties and open space with high wind comfort.

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Florian

Co-Founder & CEO greenpass

https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-kraus/

Ich bin internationaler Experte mit jahrelanger Erfahrung in der Bewertung und Gestaltung von klimasicheren und nachhaltigen Immobilien und Freiräumen. Nach meinem Masterstudium für Landschaftsplanung & -architektur war ich an der BOKU als Forscher und der Green4Cities als Manager tätig.