Qualitative methods to explore thermo-spatial perception in outdoor urban spaces

Sanda Lenzholzer,Wiebke Klemm,Carolina Vasilikou

doi:10.1016/j.uclim.2016.10.003

Sanda Lenzholzer, Wiebke Klemm + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2016.10.003

Copy DOI

Abstract

To be able to design thermally comfortable urban spaces, designers require design guidelines that respond to people's thermal and spatial perception. This thermo-spatial perception is influenced by a range of dimensions: the nature and scale of spatial contexts, the kinetic state of the people and the time scale of their perception ('now' or 'the past'). Recently, novel qualitative methods have been developed to link thermal and spatial information of people's perception. To attain an overview of these methods we conducted an extensive literature review. The results show that these qualitative methods respond to the different dimensions by combinations of momentary and long-term thermal perception research in stationary mode and in motion in varying spatial environments. These qualitative methods deliver explicit combination of thermal and spatial information. Based on that evidence, new knowledge relevant to urban design of thermally comfortable urban spaces can be generated.

Highlights

Concepts and methods in outdoor thermal perception researchCareful climate-responsive design of urban spaces is needed to solve existing urban climate problems and face the challenges induced by climate change
Our review resulted in a range of studies that investigated people's thermal perception in relation to spatial environments in stationary or in motion mode
We reflect on the results of the review in general and on which kind of knowledge should be generated for which spatial and time scales

Summary

Introduction

Concepts and methods in outdoor thermal perception researchCareful climate-responsive design of urban spaces is needed to solve existing urban climate problems and face the challenges induced by climate change. Concepts and methods in outdoor thermal perception research. To design thermally comfortable urban environments, designers need design guidelines that combine thermal and spatial matters. S. Lenzholzer et al / Urban Climate xxx (2016) xxx–xxx on evidence about how urban spatial characteristics (e.g. shapes of buildings and open spaces, materials, distribution and type of vegetation) affect human thermal perception. Lenzholzer et al / Urban Climate xxx (2016) xxx–xxx on evidence about how urban spatial characteristics (e.g. shapes of buildings and open spaces, materials, distribution and type of vegetation) affect human thermal perception Methods to study this connection between thermal and spatial perception are novel and need to be discussed and compared. The main aim of this paper is to give an overview of the new methods to investigate outdoor thermal perception and cast light on their usability for different research objectives

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion