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MCI Framingham Heat Island Impact

By Elliott Robinson, Alexis Ellis, Daniel Rutherford, Zero Tanoury, Echo Pollard

Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Leaning

July 27th, 2022

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What Are Urban Heat Islands?

Heat islands are urban areas which trap heat:

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  • Cause: low albedo materials, such as asphalt, concrete, or rubber.
  • Albedo is the measure of how much

light an object reflects.

  • The higher the albedo, the more

light an object reflects.

Source: https://bayareamonitor.org/article/summer-in-the-city-seeking-relief-from-urban-heat-islands/

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Problem:

  • Who: The inmates at MCI Framingham.
  • What: The inmates suffer from heat related illnesses because cells regularly reach 101˚ F in the summer.
  • Why: The black material used for the roof traps heat and heats up the cells.

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MCI Framingham Source: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2679228,-71.4086586,19z

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Goal

  • Our goal is to reduce the number of heat related illnesses and deaths among the inmates at MCI Framingham.

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  • We plan to do this by cooling the inside air temperature to be equal to the outside air temperature.

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Requirements

  • Respect integrity of roof
  • Improve health of prisoners
  • Be safe
  • Be easy to maintain
  • Has to be good for environment

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Proposed Solution: Extensive Rooftop Garden

  • Primarily composed of sedum plants interspersed with other native plants
  • Little maintenance required
  • Low water requirement

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Source: https://www.gardenista.com/posts/hardscaping-101-green-roofs/

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How Solution Meet Our Requirements

  • Respect integrity of roof
  • Improve health of prisoners
  • Be safe
  • Be easy to maintain
  • Has to be good for environment

Aureum Sedum (Source)

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Prototypes

Simulation

Construct Base Prototype

Understand Heat Flow In Prison

Complete Report

Run Tests With Prototypes

Run Simulation

For All Factors

Analyze Data

Construct White Prototype

Construct Garden Prototype

Design Simulation

Prison Conditions

Maximum Temperature

Average Temperature

Number of Heat Illnesses

Number of Heat Deaths

Range of Temperature Change Needed

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Source: http://www.slideshare.net/hayabranko/36-lecture-presentation-16973941

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Source: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/1/6/pdf

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Demonstration

We created three 1ft by 1ft physical models with varying heights to simulate the conditions at the prison.

  • Our first model has a black roof.
  • Our second model has a white roof cover.
  • Our third model has a miniature extensive garden on the roof.

Physical black roof model —>

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https://www.greenconceptors.com/products/rooftop-garden/

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Results: Overall

  • Use this slide to show the Table with the complete data from your simulation (see Report)
  • You will need to be prepared to explain the Table without showing more text
  • The Table must include all given parameter, variable you changed for each simulation run and outcome of each simulation

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Results: Highlight

  • Use this slide to show a subset of the Table with the most compelling results from your simulation
  • Note these may be results that show that your solution will not achieve the goal you set at the start. This is OK.
  • You will need to be prepared to explain the Table without showing more text

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Recommendations

Create a prototype(s) that will…

  • Better convey the conditions
  • Measure effect after changing variables
  • Demonstrate that a rooftop garden will prolong the lifespan of roofs
  • Demonstrate the insulating property of rooftop gardens

Model of Prison

Waterproof Layer

Better green roof prototype

Soil Layer

Sedum Layer

Drainage Layer

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Recommendations

If our recommendation is not feasible…

  • DOC should take in consideration painting the roofs white
  • White roofs would help lower the temperature below 95 degrees fahrenheit

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Source:https://www.archdaily.com/802423/how-the-white-stepped-roofs-of-bermuda-allowed-residents-to-live-without-fresh-water-sources

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Conclusion

Our Main Conclusions:

  • The prisoners deserve safe living conditions.
  • The prisoners living conditions must improve.
  • We propose to install a rooftop garden however, it doesn’t matter what solution improves the safety of their living conditions.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank: Framingham State University and the Christa McAuliffe Center for sharing space, staff, and resources.

The PETM program funders: Dorr Family Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, MathWorks, MA STEM Pipeline Fund/Massachusetts Executive Office of Education, MassHire Metro South / West YouthWorks Program, NASA Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium and Framingham Cultural Council, Marlborough Cultural Council, Milford Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Individuals who contributed their time and expertise: Bryan Coyle, Cara Pina, Erin Creel, Hillary Nna, Judy Otto, Kleo Taliadouros, Martin Pillsbury, Megan Mayer, Nancy Niemi, Priscilla Ryder, Sasha Shyduroff, Shawn Luz. Maureen Fowler.

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Works and Images Cited