Shadow maps in urban design are used to communicate which of the following?

• A. They show the duration of shade in hours caused by buildings.
• B. They model traffic patterns.
• C. They measure average wind speed.
• D. They map land use types.

Answer: (A)

Shadow maps show how long areas remain shaded by buildings, converting the sun’s path and building geometry into a clear picture of shade duration across the day. This helps designers communicate for urban spaces where pedestrians, structures, and outdoor areas need to know when and how long shade will fall on specific spots, influencing comfort, daylight use, and energy planning. By coding hours of shade, these maps provide a straightforward way to compare different layouts or orientations and assess solar access over time.

The other ideas aren’t what shadow maps convey: they don’t depict traffic patterns, wind speeds, or land-use types. Those are separate analyses focused on movement, air flow, or category of land rather than the temporal shading outcome produced by building form.