The influence of water on the deterioration and conservation of the remains of ancient residential buildings or building columns in archeological sites were discussed from an architectural environmental engineering perspective. The remains of the exhibition hall in the ancient city of Heijokyu, Nara, Japan, was used as an example to explain the current status, causes, modeling, and prediction of deterioration; and the proposal and evaluation of countermeasures. Soil erosion, salt weathering, biodeterioration, and brown emulsion stain are typical deterioration of the exhibition halls. The main cause of deterioration was water inflow from the surrounding soil. Conservation measures were evaluated using a simulation model.

In the present study, we investigated whether the responses of thermal sensations and electroencephalography (EEG) to local skin cooling differ between male and female subjects after adjusting for the degree of coldness complaints in daily life. Subjects were classified into two groups: subjects with a cold constitution and normal control subjects, and their physiological responses were compared. Local skin temperatures in the dorsal feet were decreased from 33°C to 23°C and the feet were then rewarmed to 33°C. This local thermal loading was repeated twice. Thermal sensations were rated using a visual analogue scale, EEG was performed at the parietal area (C3, C4), and the spectral power of 4 frequency bands (the θ wave, α1 wave, α2 wave, β wave) was analyzed. The responses of thermal sensations to local thermal loading did not significantly differ between males and females; however, sex differences were observed in the change in θ wave power on EEG. In addition, subjects with a cold constitution were more sensitive to cold sensations during the skin cooling stimulation than normal control subjects, and differences in brain activity were shown as different responses in the low-frequency α wave power.

This study estimated the net solar absorptance and transmittance of clothing ensembles using the absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of each single garment based on the net radiation method, and compared them with the measured results. Additionally, a part of the solar heat absorbed by the clothing should be released back to the skin, although the previous studies have assumed that all of them were transferred to the surroundings. This study derived the heat balance equation taking into account the re-released heat and body segment differences and examined its validity through the measurements using a thermal manikin at the outdoor environments. The results showed that the manikin absorbed less than 70 % of the solar radiation, which was supposed to be absorbed theoretically, while the estimated solar absorptance and transmittance corresponded closely to the measured values. This ratio can be useful to evaluate realistically the solar effect on the human body, and was defined as the solar efficiency factor of clothing. Consequently, it is expected that the net solar absorptance of clothing ensembles and the new defined factor would improve the evaluation of outdoor thermal effects on the human body.

Heat disorders in the elderly can be potentially fatal, making the prevention of heat disorders in residences for the elderly an urgent cause for action. The purpose of this study was to clarify (1) the actual thermal environment in residences during the summer, (2) the consciousness and behavior necessary for the prevention of heat disorders and (3) the resident’s temperature recognition.

(1) We measured the indoor temperature and relative humidity values in five rooms in 74 residences. The results of the measurements showed that the indoor temperatures reached dangerous levels, high enough that residents might show heat disorders. (2) In regard to the consciousness related to the prevention of heat disorders, 77.3% of the residents showed a high level of concern. The rate of measures or actions taken to prevent heat disorders were “Water supply” (96.0%), “Cool clothes” (69.3%) and “Air conditioner use” (42.7%). (3) We also surveyed the residents to determine whether they knew the exact indoor temperature. Before temperature recognition, the correlation of the actual survey temperature and expected temperature showed that the residents were not able to recognize temperature correctly. The residents showed an interest and they took heat prevention measures, but their knowledge was not related to an improvement in the hot temperature environment.

“Air conditioner use” was increased in 60.0% of the residents after recognition of the sensory temperature. These results suggested the possibility that recognition of the sensory temperature (visualization of the indoor temperature) could be effective for the prevention of heat disorders in the elderly. In summary, the results of this study may be useful in preventing heat disorders.