This paper presents a method and mock-up design for evaluating the heat-island mitigation effect of porous/water-retentive blocks in a climatic environmental chamber using ambient temperature measurements. To create the proposed method, the heat circulation mechanism of blocks was considered. From this, …

The COMBURA symposium is the major annual event for exchange of information on combustion research and its practical applications, in the Netherlands. It is an initiative of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Vlamonderzoek NVV (Netherlands Association for Flame Research) and is sponsored by the Dutch section …

The changing climate has an effect on the quality of life in our cities: heavier rainfall (resulting in floodings), longer periods of drought, reduced air and water quality and increasing temperatures in cities (heat stress). Awareness about these changes among various stakeholders is of great importance. …

Animal welfare has a high importance this day and age. In 1998 the 'Five freedoms' of Brambell have been put in the European law. Thermal comfort for dairy cows is in these five freedoms and so thermal discomfort must be avoided. Heat stress affects animal welfare, milkproduction, udder-health and reproduction …

Urban planning will benefit from tools that can assess the vulnerability to thermal stress in urban dense cities. Detailed quick-scan heat stress maps, as made in this study for Johannesburg, have proven valuable in the decision-making process on this topic. It raised awareness on the urgent need to …

Cities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change and there is an urgent need to become more resilient. This research involves the development of the City Climate Scan methodology to measure, map, scan and assess different parameters that provide insight into the vulnerability of urban areas …

Urban planners and several stakeholders in public and private sector are in need of (quickscan) tools that can assess the vulnerability to floods and thermal stress. Urban flooding and thermal stress have become key issues for many cities around the world. With the continuing effects of climate change, …

The thermal performance of conventional flat roof systems is in practice normally assessed by the heat transfer caused by conduction. The effects of radiation and convection are in such cases ignored as being insignificant. Holistic flat roof systems are designed to better utilize the impact of radiation …

The future will be warmer with more tropical days, heat stress and related impacts for the healthy and liveable city. This is clear from many scientific studies and papers. Yet many local governments in the Netherlands claim to have insufficient understanding of the importance of these impacts in order …