Revealing the Impact of Heat Radiation on Construction: A Microclimate Simulation Using Meteorological Data and Geometric Modeling

Abstract

The construction industry is vulnerable to heat-related hazards, necessitating identification of high-risk areas and contributing factors. This study introduces a novel framework that integrates microclimate simulations with geometric modeling, focusing on the often-underestimated role of heat radiation in assessing heat-related hazards in construction environments. By analyzing 2 years of meteorological data from a construction site in College Station, Texas, this research uncovers the inadequacies of the heat index (HI), a widely recognized thermal-physiological model in the US construction sector. Compared with the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), the HI displayed notable variations. Specifically, out of 1,719 data points labeled as danger by HI, WBGT recategorized them as low risk (n=62), moderate risk (n=1,264), high risk (n=300), and extreme risk (n=93). These discrepancies are predominantly associated with the influence of heat radiation. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of accounting for the spatially varying nature of heat radiation in construction environments, influenced by factors such as adjacent structure height, surface materials, and shading patterns. The research highlights the need for monitoring site-specific heat radiation and its potential impact on workers’ health and safety. Overall, the findings contribute to our understanding of heat-related hazards in construction and offer valuable insights for developing more effective heat-related safety management strategies.