Estimation of Perceived Temperature of Road Workers Using Radiation and Meteorological Observation Data

Abstract

During summer heat waves, road workers are easily exposed to heat stress and faced with a high risk of thermal diseases and death, and thus preventive measures are required for their safety at the work site. To prepare response measures, it is necessary to estimate workers’ perceived temperature (PT) according to exposure time, road environment, clothing type, and work intensity. This study aimed to examine radiation (short-wave radiation and long-wave radiation) and other meteorological factors (temperature, humidity, and wind) in an actual highway work environment in summer and to estimate PT using the observation data. Analysis of radiation and meteorological factors on the road according to pavement type and weather revealed that more heat was released from asphalt than from concrete. Regression model analysis indicated that compared with young workers (aged 25–30 years), older workers (aged ≥ 60 years) showed a rapid increase in PT as the temperature increased. The temperatures that people actually feel on concrete and asphalt roads in heat wave conditions can be predicted using the PT values calculated by the regression models. Our findings can serve as a basis for measures to prevent workers from thermal diseases at actual road work sites.

Editorial on New Challenges in Solar Radiation, Modeling and Remote Sensing

“…Additionally, the impact of the uncertainty in building heights and footprints was evaluated and compared to experimental data to estimate the solar radiation of a building rooftop. Finally, as an example of applications of solar radiation derived from remote sensing techniques related to health, Lee et al presented a novel and interesting study on determining the perceived temperature of road workers on a highway during summer [14]. Sky-view imagery and additional meteorological variables were used to model mean radiant temperature applied to the workers according to the road material.…”