Development and validation of a numerical tool for simulating the surface temperature field and the infrared radiance rendering in an urban scene

A new simulator devoted to urban environment is presented. Its aims at generating the synthetic scene viewed by an infrared sensor after solving the direct heat transfer problem at the surface level. The software SOLENE (CERMA, Nantes) was coupled with two tools for realising this task: SUSHI (Simulation in Urban Scene of Heat dIffusion) and MOHICANS. SUSHI purpose is to compute the external surface temperature of a building based on a 1D or a 2D heat transfer model. The 2D model is used in specific parts of the walls for simulating the impact of the thermal bridges on the facade temperature. Then, MOHICANS yields the infrared at-sensor radiance taking account reflections and atmosphere radiative contributions. A joined ground and airborne experiment has been done to validate this simulator. The results of this validation are presented showing a good adequacy between simulated and measured values for both temperature and infrared radiance.