Combined effects of the visual-thermal environment on the subjective evaluation of urban pedestrian streets in severely cold regions of China

Abstract

The comfort of outdoor spaces is related to the daily routine and health of residents. It encourages urban liveability and sustainability. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence of interaction between visual and thermal environments and the effects of visual-thermal conditions on overall comfort. This study investigates the effects of visual-thermal environment on subjective evaluations (aesthetic evaluations, thermal evaluations and overall comfort) in urban pedestrian streets in severely cold regions of China through questionnaires and on-site meteorological measurements. The results illustrate diverse associations of thermal sensation vote (TSV) and thermal comfort vote (TCV) with the perceived aesthetics vote in different seasons. Moreover, the thermal comfort vote shows a strong positive correlation with people's visual comfort vote. Aesthetic vote differs across seasons and thermal stress conditions. Furthermore, the interaction of the visual and thermal environments affects the overall comfort in spring and winter seasons. Although the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) conditions change, people's overall comfort has been maintained at a high level in an aesthetically pleasing environment. Thus, the findings suggest that satisfaction with the environment is significantly higher in outdoor environments with higher levels of thermal comfort. Urban designers can enhance the overall comfort of pedestrian streets and alleviate outdoor thermal discomfort by creating an aesthetic visual environment and comfortable thermal environment.