Analysis of Thermal Comfort Impacts through Computational Simulation Due to Land Cover Modification:

Rio 2016 Athletes' Village

Abstract

Intense urbanization, characterized by the increase in impervious surfaces and the use of construction materials with high heat absorption and retention capacity, has altered the natural balance of energy and radiation at the Earth's surface, contributing to urban warming. This study investigated microclimatic changes associated with the development of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Village, with the main objective of assessing the impacts of land cover modification on the local urban microclimate. The analysis was conducted through computational simulations using ENVI-met 3.1 software, including quantitative and qualitative analyses across three different time periods. The results indicated that the replacement of natural areas with built surfaces significantly increased air temperature, directly affecting local thermal comfort. However, the study also revealed that mitigation strategies—such as the incorporation of green areas—can significantly improve environmental conditions in the region.