Thermal environment analysis of landscape parameters of an urban park in summer - A case study in Suwon, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Urban parks are becoming increasingly important for improving urban thermal environments. To investigate the thermal effects of landscape parameters of urban parks in summer, micrometeorological and human thermal sensation data were analyzed and compared. Data were collected at three fixed locations and twenty-four transient locations in Hyowon Park, Suwon, Republic of Korea. The chosen locations were surfaced with different materials and were exposed to different direct solar radiation by trees or artificial shading devices. It was found that human thermal sensations were influenced most by the mean radiant temperature. The physiological equivalent temperature was two levels lower in thermal perception in shaded locations than sunny ones. Therefore, the most effective method of reducing the mean radiant temperature and human thermal sensations in summer is to create large shaded spaces by building artificial shading devices such as pergolas and planting trees with a high crown density. Among the surface materials, cement bricks, grass-flagstones, and coconut mats created better human thermal environments than baked bricks, polyurethane, and granite. Based on these results, we provide a list of improvements that can be used to guide future policy and design of urban parks to improve the thermal environment of urban outdoor spaces.