Combined effects of environmental factors on human perception and objective performance: A review of experimental laboratory works

Abstract

This study reports the outcomes of a literature survey aimed at exploring how different environmental factors-that is acoustic, thermal, visual, and air quality stimuli-interact in affecting building occupants' perception and performance. Recent laboratory studies have been collected, and their methodological approaches reviewed in terms of experimental design, adopted exposures conditions, perception and performance assessment methods. Results have been summarized and compared to identify interaction patterns between environmental factors and possible practical implications for improving the design of both experimental studies and the built environment. The analysis allows highlighting limitations, potential improvements and future opportunities in this field of research, thus providing a reference for further investigations aimed at a deeper understanding, modeling, and prediction of the impacts caused by the main indoor variables on human comfort and performance.

Discomfort Glare Cut-Off Values From Field and Laboratory Studies

“…This is not the case in a laboratory environment, since the participants know they will not have to work under these conditions in the future. The hypothesis is supported by (Torresin, 2018) mentioning that participants of a laboratory study might have lower motivation than real office workers, causing them to be more resilient to environmental stress.…”

“…Several mentions can be found in the literature where it is reported that exposure conditions in laboratory tests of indoor comfort studies are often higher than the ones experienced in most buildings (Torresin, 2018, Lamb, 2016, Chinazzo, 2018. This trend is seen in the field of daylighting as well.…”

“…They would therefore have made a relative assessment based on this comparison, which would have been more severe than if there had been no experience at the desk and no anchors to relate to. Furthermore, exacerbation due to a prolonged exposure or effects of a frequent stressor can play a role in the subjective assessment made in a field study (Torresin, 2018).…”

Cognitive Performance Evaluation Under Controlled Daylight Levels at Different Indoor Temperatures

“…For this reason, many studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of indoor environmental factors on human performance, focusing on one factor at a time (Baron et al, 1992;Furnham and Strbac, 2002;Heschong Mahone Group, 2003;Lan and Lian, 2009;Reinten et al, 2017;Valančius and Jurelionis, 2013;Wargocki, 1998). However, building occupants are exposed simultaneously to multiple factors and their performance might depend not only on the presence of individual factors but also on their combination (Torresin et al, 2018). Only few studies exist on the effects of the simultaneous presence of multiple indoor stimuli on objective or subjective performance (Balazova et al, 2007;Hygge and Knez, 2001;Knez and Hygge, 2002;Liebl et al, 2012;Lin, 2014;Löfberg et al, 1975;Veitch, 1990).…”

Application of phytoncidal plants for improvement of ecological parameters of the air of library interiors

“…The main ecological factors are temperature, humidity, air movement, qualitative and quantitative air microflora composition. These indices depend on many parameters: locality of a building, quality of used construction and finishing materials [1], аs well as stay of people in the building [2]. People often spend 80% -90% of time indoors [4].…”