Abstract
This article reviews the main tools used to simulate the mean radiant temperature (T mrt ) under outdoor conditions. Urban environment complexity and the multiplicity of the radiative fluxes force models’ developers to simplify the problem. To summarize the common assumptions of these models, a graphical tool is proposed. In addition to the physical description, effective coherence of models as a tool for urban decision-making is analyzed. Based on this double vision, this article achieves a multi-criteria analysis of T mrt calculation. Nine tools (ENVI-met, Solene-microclimat, SOLWEIG, RayMan, CitySim, Ladybug-Grasshopper, VTUF, DART and LASER/F) are evaluated against five criteria. Three criteria relate to physics implementation: completeness of the considered radiative phenomena, representation of the environment and surface temperature modeling. Two criteria deal with the operational capabilities: consistency with the needs of city-planners and practical accessibility. These criteria highlight various issues, and in particular the conflict between user-friendly practicality and an accurate description of physical phenomena.
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