The design of low-rise buildings such that they can handle wind loads makes it necessary to accurately evaluate those wind loads, both on the structural framework and on the cladding/components. To this end, it is necessary to fully understand the characteristics of the wind near the ground around a building. This study sets out to develop a quantitative means of estimating the turbulence of the wind near the surface of the ground, based on field measurements obtained at different points across Japan. The surface roughness is evaluated based on several factors taken from a building information database. The relationship between these factors and the turbulence of the wind is discussed. The effect of the observation height, relative to the surface of the ground, on the turbulence is also investigated.

The design of low-rise buildings such that they can handle wind loads makes it necessary to accurately evaluate those wind loads, both on the structural framework and on the cladding/components. To this end, it is necessary to fully understand the characteristics of the wind near the ground around a building. This study sets out to develop a quantitative means of estimating the turbulence of the wind near the surface of the ground, based on field measurements obtained at different points across Japan. The surface roughness is evaluated based on several factors taken from a building information database. The relationship between these factors and the turbulence of the wind is discussed. The effect of the observation height, relative to the surface of the ground, on the turbulence is also investigated.