Outdoor comfort level improvement in the traffic waiting areas by using a mist spray system: An experiment and questionnaire study

Abstract

Outdoor hot environment in summer affects human health seriously, and it is very difficult to be improved by air-conditioning equipment. However, some outdoor activities are unavoidable and taking the public transportation is the main way, especially for medium and low-income population, so improving thermal environment in urban transportation waiting areas is necessary and significant. Based on this, the mist spray system was considered to improve the human thermal comfort in the urban transportation waiting areas. A bus station model was established to analyze the influence of the mist spray system through experimental test and questionnaire. The results showed air temperature was reduced obviously, while thermal comfort was well improved in the mist spray system. The average air temperatures were decreased by 2.6 °C, 2.1 °C and 3.3 °C in the head, the nasal cavity, and the chest, respectively. Human thermal sensation was increased from 1.44 (between slightly hot and hot) to 0.33 (slightly higher than neutrality), while thermal comfort was improved from −1.13 (slightly uncomfortable) to 0.76 (slightly comfortable). And female and obese participants had more sensitivity on thermal sensation and comfort level. And the mist spray system could be used widely in practice due to its wide acceptability of 76 %.