A Review on interdisciplinary methods for the characterization of thermal perception in public spaces

Abstract

The contemporary design of public spaces integrates frequently urban cooling installations for thermal comfort in summertime. However, the details of the thermal experience that they provide is yet partially unknown. This paper studies how methods and techniques arising from microclimatology, urban studies and sensory studies can interact for characterizing thermal comfort outdoors. We have reviewed thirteen papers using meteorological measuring instruments and assessed them according to the requirements of methods originating from social sciences and sensory studies for the public space. As a result, we discuss the potentialities and limitations of such techniques to interact through an interdisciplinary methodological design.