Human Biometeorological Models: Existing and Future Reflections for Lisbon

When considering existing approaches to urban contexts and their responsiveness to encircling climatic conditions, the international scientific community has identified a weakness in applicative know-how to approaching local thermal comfort conditions. As a result and particularly associated to bottom-up approaches to climate adaptation, local decision-making and design are frequently met by a lack of instruments and means to (1) address concrete local outdoor thermo-physiological thresholds and (2) render such biometeorological risk factors into opportunities for thermal sensitive local urban design and architectural practices. Recognised as a city that requires urgent action in adapting to existing and future climatic conditions that are already being witnessed within its urban environment, this chapter shall focus upon the case of Lisbon. Within this setting, the imperative interdisciplinary application of biometeorological models on behalf of local agents such as architects and urban designers is discussed. Based upon a ‘best practice’ perspective to approaching local adaption and mitigation of climatic risk factors associated to Mediterranean climates, the objective of the chapter is to assess the overall potential of models such as RayMan and SkyHelios to (1) carry out vital local assessments based upon easily accessible climatic and morphological data and (2) render more accurate outputs that better inform how existing and future climatic risk factors can be approached through thermal sensitive architectural and urban design practices.