Fundamentals of AEE

This module is aimed to teach students the fundamentals of physics and chemistry in the urban atmospheric environment. They will learn to appreciate the inherent complexity of the urban environment, where due to complex building geometry the atmosphere is highly non-uniform and transient in space and time. By performing order-of-magnitude (scaling) analysis of various physical and chemical processes, the students will learn to simplify complexity into a limited number of key-processes and to describe the evolution of relevant physical/chemical quantities using the (simplified) governing equations.

On an introductory level, the student will learn how those quantities can be probed by simple measurement principles. They will also learn basic tools of numerical modelling/conceptualization to analyze the impact of novel engineering designs on urban atmospheric environments.

While both measurement and modelling techniques are introduced on a basic level here as to understand the key processes, an in-depth treatise of these techniques are introduced in the next module.

Urban Climate Physics

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6 and LO8.

The module Fundamentals requires a basic introduction to urban microclimate. Here we introduce a range of physical concepts that are utilized in the remainder of the track modules. Apart from theory, some simple experiments are performed as an introduction to more rigorous explanation of experimental principles in later modules.

The central theme of Urban Climate Physics is the scientific analysis of the urban climate. We aim at understanding the dominant physical processes that occur in urban environments as well as to understand the interactions between a city and the overlying atmosphere and how it impacts our living environment. Special emphasis is given to quantification of thermodynamic processes, such as radiative, convective and conductive heat transport and to airflow in complex geometries.

The theoretical part connects with short practical's which illustrates the various physical principles through simple hands-on experiments. These practical's facilitate students to develop scientific intuition for the processes at hand and prepare them for the rest of the module (Modelling of Urban Flows, Urban en Indoor Air Quality, and Urban Extreme Weather).

The following topics will be addressed:

• Introduction and basic concepts;

• Research Methodologies;

• Transport phenomena and urban air flows (part I);

• Transport phenomena and urban air flows (part II);

• Radiative processes;

• The urban energy balance (including moisture effects);

• Human thermal comfort in cities.

Atmospheric chemistry

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6 and LO8.

In Atmospheric chemistry a range of fundamental concepts for understanding the key chemical processes that take place in the atmospheric environment will be introduced. These concepts will allow the students to identify, analyze, and explain certain atmospheric phenomena including physicochemical reactions, that will prove to be highly useful for the rest of the module. Apart from theory, simple experiments will be included during which the students will be able to get hands-on experience.

The following topics will be addressed:

• Background, composition, and structure of the atmosphere

• Concepts of atmospheric chemistry (thermodynamics, kinetics, lifetime, photochemistry, etc);

• From stratospheric to tropospheric chemistry;

• Chemistry in urban and rural environments;

• Basic properties of atmospheric aerosol particles;

• Processes involving atmospheric aerosols*;

• Impacts of air pollution on human health, the environment and climate. Air Pollution Meteorology en Dispersion

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5 and LO6.

In Air Pollution Meteorology en Dispersion the fundamental concepts related to turbulent diffusion and dispersion are introduced. The more advanced Urban en Indoor Air Quality, Integrated AEE Project will leverage on these concepts.

Air Pollution Meteorology en Dispersion provides an in-depth understanding of how various atmospheric processes impact air pollutant transport, especially in urban environments. First, a number of fundamental concepts related to diffusion and dispersion (e.g., turbulence mixing, plume rise, deposition) are introduced. Then, different types of pollutant sources (e.g., point, line, area) and associated mathematical equations for diffusion are derived from the first principles. More advanced approaches, based on statistical and similarity theories, are discussed next. As complementary to the theoretical discussions, a state-of-the-art dispersion modelling software is utilized for further understanding of real-life pollutant transport problems. Lastly, accidental release of hazardous materials in mega-cities and related emergency response management will be briefly touched upon.

The following topics will be addressed:

• Introduction; Gaussian diffusion models;

• Plume rise, settling, and deposition;

• Statistical theories of puff and plume diffusion;

• Similarity theories of turbulence and diffusion;

• Modelling dispersion at city scale;

• Impacts of highways and buildings on urban air quality;

• Accidental releases and emergency response management.

Physics of Sound and Human Perception

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO2, LO3, LO5, LO6 and LO8.

In Physics of Sound and Human Perception the fundamental concepts related to physics of sound and its effect on people are introduced. The more advanced Noise Modelling en Mitigation, Integrated AEE Project will build on these concepts.

Firstly, the physics of sound are introduced with a combination of practical experimentation and mathematical analysis. Basic examples such as open and closed tubes, and moving sources are studied to provide a solid foundation of acoustical understanding in preparation for the rest of the module. Then, the way we hear and respond to sound, the way we quantify sounds, and the relationship between those measures and human responses to the sounds are introduced.

More specifically the following topics will be covered in a number of teaching sessions combining theory and (in-class) experiments related to sound and its perception:

• Derivation of the one-dimensional (1D) wave equation for a fluid-filled pipe based on first principles and explanation of the assumptions necessary to do so;

• Evaluation and analysis of free vibrations of a fluid-filled pipe: the physical phenomena of resonance and standing waves in a fluid-filled pipe;

• Derivation of the three-dimensional wave equation based on first principles and explanation the assumptions necessary to do so;

• Explanation of the physics of the wave equation in application to acoustic problems;

• Explanation of the meaning of common terms in wave mechanics, such as frequency, wavelength, wavenumber, wave speed, diffraction, reflection, dispersion and give examples of how they apply to sound;

Acoustic sources;

• Speed of sound in a fluid medium and dependence on its physical properties;

• Demonstration (by means of a computer program where appropriate) of standing waves, interference fields, and other wave phenomena;

• Parts of the outer, middle and inner ear and their role in hearing;

• Hearing of an individual;

• Analysis of sound measurements;

Conversion of narrowband data into third and octave band levels either with linear or A weighting.