CFD SIMULATIONS AND VALIDATION FOR PEDESTRIAN WIND COMFORT: INSIGHTS FROM A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS OUTSIDE BANGKOK

Abstract

Pedestrian wind comfort is a critical factor in urban design, particularly in tropical climates where outdoor spaces play a vital role in daily activities. This study focuses on enhancing the applicability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in assessing pedestrian comfort in Southeast Asia’s urban contexts, where challenges such as high wind speeds and limited experimental validation persist. Using Mahidol University’s Salaya campus in Nakorn Pathom, Thailand, as a case study, we address regional gaps in CFD simulations by excluding natural elements like vegetation to focus on the built environment. High-accuracy CFD simulations, validated through experimental measurements (R² = 0.9713), were used to model wind speeds and analyze pedestrian comfort across various outdoor spaces under four prevailing wind directions. The findings reveal critical opportunities to improve outdoor spaces, such as seating and relaxation areas, to enhance both academic and recreational activities. This study not only provides actionable insights for Mahidol University but also offers a scalable methodology that can be applied to other urban settings in tropical climates, emphasizing the need for accurate CFD validation and sustainable, comfortable urban design.