Question

Which among the following acronyms represents a thermal comfort index?

• A. PMV
• B. NDVI
• C. DEM
• D. PCA

Hint:

PMV is commonly used in building design to create energy-efficient, comfortable environments by controlling air temperature, humidity, and air movement.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The term PMV stands for Predicted Mean Vote, which is a widely used thermal comfort index in building design and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. It is based on the perception of individuals and predicts the mean vote on a 7-point scale from -3 (cold) to +3 (hot), with 0 being neutral. PMV considers various factors such as air temperature, humidity, air velocity, and clothing insulation to evaluate the comfort level of a space.
Why is PMV the correct choice?
- PMV is directly related to thermal comfort, which is the degree of satisfaction a person feels in a specific environment based on thermal conditions. The thermal comfort index provides a way to assess these environmental parameters and adjust HVAC systems accordingly to achieve optimal comfort.
Why are the other options incorrect?
- NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index): NDVI is used to measure vegetation density, not thermal comfort. It is primarily used in remote sensing for vegetation analysis.
- DEM (Digital Elevation Model): DEM is used for modeling terrain and is unrelated to thermal comfort.
- PCA (Principal Component Analysis): PCA is a statistical technique used for dimensionality reduction and data analysis, not for measuring thermal comfort.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option (A). PMV is specifically designed to quantify thermal comfort, making it the most appropriate choice for this question.