Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Urban Environment: Assessments and Applications in Urban Planning and Design

Description

This book highlights the importance of outdoor thermal comfort for improving urban living quality in the context of urban planning and urban geometry design. It introduces readers to a range of assessment methods and applications of outdoor thermal comfort and addresses urban geometry and thermal environment at the neighbourhood scale using real-world examples and parametric studies. In addition, the subjective evaluations by urban dwellers and numerical modelling tools introduced in this book provide not only a comprehensive assessment of outdoor thermal comfort but also an integrated approach to using thermal comfort indicators as a standard in high-density cities. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable guide for urban climate researchers, urban planners, and designers, and policymakers pursuing more liveable urban environments. Foreword by Prof. Edward Ng Acknowledgements About This book Contents 1 Characteristics of Thermal Comfort in Outdoor Environments 1.1 Human Thermal Comfort in Outdoor Environments 1.2 Factors Governing Outdoor Thermal Comfort 1.2.1 Thermophysiological Aspects of Outdoor Thermal Comfort 1.2.2 Psychological Aspects of Outdoor Thermal Comfort 1.3 Thermal Comfort in High-Density Cities 1.4 Objectives of This Book References Part I Human Thermal Comfort in the Outdoor Environment 2 Human Thermal Comfort in Sub-tropical Urban Environments 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Methodology 2.2.1 The Climate and LCZ Map of Hong Kong 2.2.2 Micrometeorological Measurements 2.2.3 Questionnaire Surveys 2.2.4 Statistical Analysis 2.3 Results and Discussion 2.3.1 Micrometeorological Conditions of Different LCZs 2.3.2 Subjective Perception of Microclimatic Conditions in Different LCZs 2.3.3 Correlation Between Subjective Perception and Meteorological Variables 2.4 Conclusions References 3 Dynamic Response of Pedestrian Thermal Comfort 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Methodology 3.2.1 Longitudinal Survey 3.2.2 Mobile Meteorological Measurements 3.2.3 Statistical Analysis 3.3 Results and Discussion 3.3.1 Micrometeorological Measurements 3.3.2 Spatial Variation of the PET and Subjective Thermal Sensation 3.3.3 Autocorrelation of Subjective Thermal Sensation 3.3.4 Time-Lag Effect of Meteorological Variables on the TSV 3.4 Conclusions References 4 Environmental Perception and Outdoor Thermal Comfort in High-Density Cities 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Psychological Perception of Environmental Quality 4.2 Methodology 4.2.1 High-Density Context of Hong Kong 4.2.2 Micrometeorological Measurements 4.2.3 Questionnaire Surveys 4.2.4 Statistical Analysis 4.3 Results and Discussion 4.3.1 Respondent Characteristics 4.3.2 Micrometeorological Measurements 4.3.3 Subjective Thermal Sensation and Perceived Comfort 4.3.4 Perceived Environmental Quality 4.3.5 Overall Thermal Comfort 4.4 Implications on Urban Geometry Design 4.5 Conclusions References Part II Evaluation of Design Strategies for Outdoor Thermal Comfort 5 Effects of Urban Geometry on Mean Radiant Temperature 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Methodology 5.2.1 Study Area 5.2.2 SOLWEIG Model 5.2.3 Input Data and Model Settings 5.2.4 Field Measurements 5.3 Validation of the SOLWEIG Model 5.4 Spatial Variation of Mean Radiant Temperature 5.4.1 Outdoor Mean Radiant Temperature in Different Urban Settings 5.4.2 Heat-Stress Area 5.5 Temporal Variation of Mean Radiant Temperature 5.6 Conclusions References 6 Urban Greening Strategies for Enhancing Outdoor Thermal Comfort 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Methodology 6.2.1 Study Areas for Tree Design Approaches 6.2.2 Field Measurements 6.2.3 Simulation Settings 6.3 Results and Discussion 6.3.1 Field Measurements Under Different Sky Conditions 6.3.2 Validation and Sensitivity of the ENVI-Met Model 6.3.3 Morphology-Based Approaches 6.3.4 Wind-Path Approach 6.4 Conclusions References 7 Effect of Tree Species on Outdoor Thermal Comfort 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Methodology 7.2.1 Study Framework 7.2.2 Model Description and Initialisation 7.2.3 Validation of the ENVI-Met Model 7.2.4 Field Measurements and Validation Results 7.2.5 Model Parameterisation 7.2.6 Configuration of Parametric Study 7.3 Results and Discussion 7.3.1 Impacts of Shadow-Cast on Thermal Comfort in Street Canyons 7.3.2 Effect of Tree Species on Thermal Comfort in Open Area 7.3.3 Effect of Tree Species on Thermal Comfort in Street Canyons 7.3.4 Impact of Shadow-Cast on In-Canyon Tree Potential 7.3.5 Relationship Between Trees’ Physical Configuration and Thermal Effect 7.4 Recommended Street Tree-Planting Strategies 7.5 Conclusions and Further Work References Part III Applications of Human Thermal Comfort in Urban Planning and Design 8 Urban Climatic Map: Thermal Comfort as the Synergising Indicator 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Methodology 8.2.1 Study Area 8.2.2 Meteorological Data 8.2.3 Land, Building, and Planning Data 8.2.4 Structure of the UC-AnMap 8.3 User Questionnaire Survey for Outdoor Thermal Comfort 8.3.1 Synergising Indicator: Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) 8.3.2 Survey Campaign 8.4 Outdoor Thermal Comfort Standard in Hong Kong 8.5 Collating the Urban Climatic Map 8.6 Conclusions References Epilogue