An approach for comfortable open space design of mass-housing settlements in terms of wind and noise

This thesis aims to develop and suggest an approach to solve the problems caused by the case of wind and noise factors that are overlapped in mass-housing areas. For this aim, the suggestion for the approach of the thesis was formed initially, then the approach was applied on the case area. 25 different settlement scenarios were defined and 4 different storey heights were determined for the case area. The wind measures of Antalya city that were recorded in last 30 years were used as climatic data. The international comfort criteria related to the mechanic and thermal effects of wind was investigated. The research showed that the comfort criteria for the wind were differentiated country by country. Therefore, the standards of Netherland that shows the most similar climatic character to the Turkey was used in the thesis. After the investigation of noise comfort standards, 55 dBA that is the acceptable noise level was used as the limit of comfort level. The calculation related to the noise control was realized according to the 4 different noise levels of traffic roads (55, 65, 75 and 85 dBA). The "Urbawind" software for the wind simulations and the "Soundplan" software for the noise simulations were used in the research. Within the researches that have been realized so far, there has not been any joint study and any determination for a mutual limit value for the wind and noise comfort in common open spaces. A limit value for the comfort level of common open spaces was 2 determined according to the calculation of two different approaches. Having analyzed the wind and noise simulation results, the comfort maps and graphics were prepared. By superposing the maps of two different factors, the common comfortable zones were determined. For the settlement alternatives that did not present the comfort level of common open space, suitable barrier proposals were developed. The wind and noise simulations were repeated for the settlement alternatives that have barriers. The results of comfortable area analyses were evaluated at final phase. In conclusion, an approach that might be thought as a guide for designers was proposed to control the wind and noise in design process to create comfortable open area. By using the methods and results of this study, it might be possible to create comfortable open spaces in new and already built mass-housing areas. Keywords: Mass-Housing, Wind, Noise, open space, urbawind, soundplan