Pedestrian-Level Wind Speed Analysis: A Case Study

Abstract

This study analyses wind speed and wind comfort at the Auckland University of Technology, addressing a research gap in how urban contexts influence wind comfort in Auckland. Field surveys assessed public perceptions of wind speed during summer and winter, while computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations used historical data to examine the effects of street orientations, aspect ratios and building arrangements. High-risk areas, defined by average wind speeds exceeding 3.3 m/s, were identified, and mitigation scenarios were proposed. The findings show that street orientation has the greatest impact on wind speed, with areas angled 45 degrees to the predominant wind direction facing the most significant challenges. This research offers insights into wind comfort from an architectural and design perspective.