A method for optimisation of wind discomfort criteria

Wind discomfort criteria are compared and optimised using a U/Upot framework; Upot is the 10 m wind speed at an ideal meteorological site. A new estimate of turbulence intensity is proposed for the conversion of criteria to a U/Upot ratio. Using this estimate, differences between existing criteria turn out to be much larger than remarked upon in the past. The criteria are also checked against empirical evidence. For the test case of Amsterdam, the maximum recommended value of U/Upot varies between 0.3 (for sitting) and 0.7 (safety only). Optimum thresholds are proposed as well.