Thermal Effect of Materials for Ground Covering and Roofing in Tropical City Environment

(Paper accepted for “Second Annual International Conference on Green Technology and Engineering" 2009, Bandar Lampung, 15-17 April 2009)


Sangkertadi 1), Reny Syafriny 2)

1) Architect, Professor in Building Science
Head of Laboratory of Building Science & Technology, Department of Architecture,
Faculty of Engineering, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Indonesia
E-mail : t_sangkertadi@yahoo.com

2) Architect & Urban Planner
Program Study of Urban & Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering,
Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Indonesia
E-mail : renysy@yahoo.com

Abstract
A good thermal performance that gives comfortable microclimate of urban space will be one of primary point of interest for the visitors or even for the migrants to do their outdoor activities: parking, relaxing, walking, retailing, etc. Climate effect is therefore a factor considerable importance in designing open spaces and building envelop. Architect or urban designer’s major task is to create the best possible outdoor environment to the people’s activities. Green technology appreciation in the context of urban architecture may be interpreted as the application of materials covering buildings envelop and ground surface. Soft and hard materials covering park space, roofing and wall, play important role determining convective and radiant temperature of its environment. Outdoor thermal comfort is therefore depends on utilization of surface material.
This paper contains the intention of thermal performance of outdoor environment in the center town of Manado city, Indonesia, located in humid tropical climate zone. One hour steps of temperature measurement at the surface of several ground covering materials (paving-block, asphalt, concrete block, grass) without solar shading in a hot season were done. The measurement was once more done at the surface of several types of building roofing materials (zinc, tile, rumbia). Air temperature of outdoor space was also recorded. This is to know the effect of using different types of materials on outdoor environment. A simple numerical simulation was also realized using TRNSYS in order to make comparison with the results from measurement. This study recommend of principles of thermal properties of materials for roofing and ground covering of a tropical environment.

Keywords : Outdoor thermal comfort, Urban heat island, Tropical humid, Open space

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