This　study　proposes　a　method　for　the　approximate　simulation　of　field　gust　in　an　atmospheric　boundary　layer　wind　tunnel　driven　by　an　axial　fan.　Wavelet　analysis　and　genetic　algorithm　have　been　adopted　to　convert　actual　field　gust　data　into　a　series　of　simplified　and　smooth　control　signals.　One　frequency　converter　is　used　to　receive　the　signals　via　a　programmable　logic　controller　and　change　the　fan　speed　correspondingly.　Results　show　that　the　low-frequency　energetic　part　of　field　gust　on　top　of　a　saltation　layer　has　been　almost　reproduced　in　the　wind　tunnel　with　energy　fluctuations　±3.26%　from　the　mean　compared　with　the　field　data　in　terms　of　energy.　The　appropriate　filter　frequency　for　field　gust　velocity　history　is　1/32　Hz.　A　unidirectional　natural　wind　field　near　a　sand　bed　surface　can　be　approximately　simulated　in　the　tunnel　by　adjusting　carefully　the　roughness　element　arrangement.　The　time-averaged　velocity　profile　of　the　simulated　wind,　which　satisfies　the　logarithmic　law,　is　nearly　equivalent　to　the　steady　flow　with　the　same　average　velocity.　©　2021　Author(s).