zonens

Zonens is a neologism used in some Dutch-language planning and ecological literature to refer to spatial units defined by similar solar exposure. A zonen is intended to reflect how varying levels of sunlight, shading, and insolation influence climate, vegetation, energy needs, and human comfort within a landscape. Zonens are typically delineated by analyzing solar radiation data, topography, and built form, then aggregating areas with comparable insolation profiles into zones. The boundaries and the number of zonens depend on data resolution and the purpose of the study; they can range from broad regional zones to fine-grained urban sectors.

In practice, zonens are used to inform decisions in urban design, building orientation, daylight planning, and energy efficiency strategies. They can guide where to place solar collectors, how to optimize window-to-wall ratios, and where shading devices are most needed. In agriculture and ecology, zonens help identify microclimates that affect crop choices and species distributions.

Limitations include dependence on temporal scale (daily, seasonal, annual), data quality, and interactions with other drivers such as wind, humidity, and soil. Zonens are simplifications and should be used alongside other environmental and socio-economic factors. The concept is not universally standardized, and terminology may vary between disciplines or languages.