SOLARCHVISION Comfort Analysis of Montreal Downtown, Quebec, Canada
(based on the information from Google Maps, Google Earth,U.S. Department of Energy TMY climate file of Montreal)
This study presented here illustrates the annual positive and negative impacts of building geometries on the urban areas of Montreal downtown in Quebec, Canada. In the following diagrams the analysis is performed in two joined zones between Place-des-Arts and Bell Center. A better solar-climatic performance and more desirable place of this urban fabric throughout the year can be observed at Place-des-Arts as a result of being exposed to the sun during long period of cold. On the other hand certain undesirable areas could be found mostly on Maisonnevue & Kennedy streets.
It is also worth noting that here the deviation of the urban fabric from true south has a positive effect on creating better solar-climatic response as well as comfort levels for the pedestrians. Besides, it can be said that the negative impact of single narrow skyscrapers are less than those of tall rows of buildings.
This draft study which is done in 2012 also includes the annual cycle solar radiation model at buildings roofs and facades as well as the open spaces. Similar/advanced analysis can be applied in different fields of planning and design such as landscape architecture, urban design, and solar architecture towards developing more efficient, comfortable, safer and more sustainable spaces for both buildings & city dwellers.
In addition to the studies presented here, in 2013 and 2014 more studies have been done at R.M.M. Studio using comprehensive datasets provided and maintained by Environment Canada (EC). These studies highlights some of Montreal future challenges that can be connected to urban heat island effect (e.g. summer analysis), significant changes in solar patterns as well as extreme conditions, etc., as can be read from recent publications completed and presented to the Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM).
To see advanced analysis and read more about Montreal (Canada) climate information as well as urban fabric and new developments in Montreal (Canada) please find the following links (namely the first and third documents):
