A decision-support tool for improving Human Thermal Comfort in outdoor environments
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Last Updated: 7-2023
Urban areas are dealing with the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect which is caused by a large
amount of paved surfaces. The UHI effect in combination with extreme heat events increases
heat stress experienced by people. For the well-being of people, it is important to improve
Human Thermal Comfort (HTC) in urban areas. Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) can help with
improving the thermal comfort of people by reducing the temperature with shadow and
evapotranspiration. Different decision-support tools have been developed to support urban
planners in determining a strategy for the implementation of UGI. Many of these tools are
focused on the temperature effect of UGI and not on the broader concept of HTC which could
give more meaning to how the environment is experienced by people.
This study investigates and illustrates how to develop a decision-support tool which supports
urban planners by determining a strategy for the implementation of UGI by focusing on
improving HTC. The study demonstrates that by performing an expanded PET index
calculation, HTC can be calculated and that based on a raster analysis including an extensive
list of requirements, it can be determined where certain types of UGI can be implemented.
By linking these outcomes, it is possible to define which UGI types are possible at locations
with high HTC values. Furthermore, it is demonstrated how these possibilities can be brought
back into the HTC calculation which shows the effect of the UGI types on the HTC values.
As a result, this study contributes to bringing together the knowledge in the field of UGI and
HTC by developing a decision-support tool for determining a strategy for the implementation
of UGI for improving HTC. Although further research will be needed, it will already be possible
to improve the thermal comfort of people based on this study which will reduce heat stress,
increase productivity and create better health circumstances for the population in urban
areas.
