Thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces: understanding the human parameter

Nikolopoulou, Marialena; Baker, Nick; Steemers, Koen

doi:10.1016/s0038-092x(00)00093-1

Cited by 645 publications

(422 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In a study of outdoor thermal comfort conditions in Cambridge in 1997, it was demonstrated how in the UK climate, people enjoy feeling warm and thus the maximum attendance of people outside was at higher air temperatures [6]. Furthermore, the authors speculated that in warmer climates, the situation could be reversed and more people would be expected outdoors when temperatures would be lower than average.…”

Section: Diurnal Pattern Of the Use Of Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research in the UK [6] has shown that responses to the microclimate may be unconscious, but they often result in a different use of open space under different climatic conditions. In a different climatic context, in Canada, the more extreme microclimatic conditions caused by tall buildings in business districts has been studied in relation to human activities and behaviour, in one of the first studies to understand the way people respond to microclimatic conditions [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of outdoor spaces and microclimate in a Mediterranean urban area

Nikolopoulou

Lykoudis

2007

Building and Environment

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258

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This paper presents some of the findings of the European project, RUROS, concentrating on the effect of microclimatic conditions on the use of open spaces in an urban Mediterranean environment. The findings confirm that there is a strong relationship between microclimatic conditions and use of open spaces. Regarding the users of open spaces, a sensitivity to the summer heat was apparent for the age category >65. The spatial distribution of the interviewees demonstrates that in summer, visitors prefer to sit in shaded areas, whereas in autumn and winter sunlit areas are more popular. Observations of the use of space revealed that air temperature and solar radiation were found to be the most dominant parameters in relation to the use of space, with wind speed and relative humidity having a weak effect. In general, people prefer shaded areas at higher air temperatures. However, as high air temperature is a factor contributing to discomfort, overall presence is reduced when air temperature rises significantly. The preference of sun, differs from season to season, depending on the activities taking place in the areas (either designated or not). The diurnal pattern of the use of space also reveals a strong dependency on meteorological parameters. Regarding the time of maximum attendance, this is found in the evening during summer, while there is a transition of the time of maximum attendance towards noon as the season progresses from summer to winter. Daytime attendance figures of autumn and winter are 300-400% higher than in the summer. The need open spaces cover and the social ties provided may also be traced by analyzing the social composition of the interviewees and the reasons bringing them in the space.

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Section: Diurnal Pattern Of the Use Of Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of outdoor spaces and microclimate in a Mediterranean urban area

Nikolopoulou

Lykoudis

2007

Building and Environment

Self Cite

258

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“…A simpler method of measuring the T mrt is to use a globe thermometer (Vernon, 1932;Kuehn et al, 1970;de Dear, 1987;Nikolopoulou et al, 1999). The globe thermometer was first developed for indoor measurements, but has later been applied outdoors (Nikolopoulou et al, 2001). Though simple, mobile and cheap the globe thermometer is seldom used in outdoor comfort studies, mainly due to the lack of outdoor validation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different methods for estimating the mean radiant temperature in an outdoor urban setting

Thorsson¹,

Lindberg²,

Eliasson³

et al. 2007

Intl Journal of Climatology

563

239

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Abstract:The mean radiant temperature (T mrt ) is one of the most important meteorological parameters governing human energy balance. In this paper, three different methods of obtaining the T mrt in an outdoor urban setting are compared. Method A is based on integral radiation measurements and angular factors, method B is based on measurements with a 38-mm flat grey globe thermometer and in method C makes use of the Rayman 1.2 software is used. Measurements were performed in a large open square in a high latitude city -Göteborg, Sweden -during clear to overcast weather conditions in October 2005 and in July and August 2006.Results show that the difference between Method A and Method B was generally relatively small. Most of the discrepancy, caused by rapid changes in radiation, temperature and wind speed was smoothed out using 5 min mean values. By systematically and empirically changing the mean convection coefficient, the accuracy of Method B was improved and a new equation expressing the T mrt was obtained. With this new equation the 38 mm flat grey globe thermometer could successfully be used to estimate the T mrt in an outdoor urban setting provided that the wind speed and the air and globe temperatures are measured accurately. The study also shows that the flat grey colour of the globe thermometer slightly underestimates the level of short-wave radiation (i.e. sunshine). Method C works very well during the middle of the day in July, i.e. at high sun elevations. However, the model considerably underestimates the T mrt in the morning and evening in July and during the whole day in October, i.e. at low sun elevations.In outdoor urban settings where thermal comfort researchers or urban planners and designers require an easy and reliable method of estimating mean radiant temperature, the 38 mm flat grey globe thermometer provides a good and cheap solution.

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“…Therefore, the physiological and psychological impact needed to be taken into account when designing green spaces. Previous studies described thermal comfort as a crucial parameter, and thermal discomfort affected these outdoor activities (Hartig, 2008;Nikolopoulou et al, 2001;Stathopoulos et al 2004). These studies explained the consequences, implication and outcomes of how heat stress affected human life.…”

Section: Psychological and Physiological Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 93%

Adaptive Outdoor Thermal Comfort at an Urban Park in Malaysia

Nasir

Ahmad

Zain-Ahmed

2018

AjBeS

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This paper clarifies the perceptive and adaptive mechanisms involved in an outdoor thermal comfort in hot, and humid condition. The method of the study was through microclimate measurement coupled with structured interviews of urban park users. The objective of this study is to identify the impacts of weather and personal factors on respondents' perceptual and sensation estimations. The findings on the significant influences of microclimate parameters and personal factors on the participants' perceptions of outdoor urban places are discussed. This study shows the respondents' thermal adaptation from physiological and psychological perspectives. The significance of the findings showed the importance of a sustainable urban park for continued use by future communities.

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Thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces: understanding the human parameter

Cited by 645 publications

References 2 publications

Use of outdoor spaces and microclimate in a Mediterranean urban area

Use of outdoor spaces and microclimate in a Mediterranean urban area

Different methods for estimating the mean radiant temperature in an outdoor urban setting

Adaptive Outdoor Thermal Comfort at an Urban Park in Malaysia

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