Outdoor Thermal Conditions Research Articles

Optimizing Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Educational Buildings: Case Study in the City of Riyadh

In hot, arid climates, educational buildings often face the challenge of limited outdoor space usage. This research, through comprehensive simulation, aims to propose practical solutions to enhance outdoor thermal comfort, particularly during school break times and student dismissal periods, thereby fostering more comfortable and functional outdoor school environments. That will happen through achieving the main objective of the study, which is evaluating the suggested passive strategies. Riyadh was selected as the case study, and four representative schools were analyzed through simulation and optimization processes to identify key areas for improvement. The research leveraged simulation tools such as Ladybug and Grasshopper in Rhino, highlighting the practicality and impact of this approach. Simulations were performed to assess the existing outdoor thermal conditions using the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) and to pinpoint regions with elevated thermal discomfort. Passive design interventions, such as shading devices and vegetation, were explored and optimized using the Galapagos in Grasshopper. This methodology supports the originality of this research in its integration of simulation tools, such as Ladybug and Grasshopper, with optimization techniques using the Galapagos plugin, specifically applied to the unique site-specific context of educational outdoor environments in a hot, dry climate in Riyadh. Additionally, insights for urban planners and architects demonstrate the possibility of integrating passive design principles to improve the usability and sustainability of outdoor spaces. The findings indicated that fewer apertures in shade devices combined with greater tree canopies might double the effectivity in lowering UTCI values, thereby enhancing thermal comfort, especially during peak summer months.

Chasing cool: Unveiling the influence of green-blue features on outdoor thermal environment in Roorkee (India)

Urban environments in humid subtropical climates, like Roorkee, India, often experience high summer temperatures and uncomfortable outdoor thermal conditions. However, the impact of green-blue landscape configurations on cooling intensity (ΔTa) and outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) is insufficiently understood. This study, conducted in Roorkee during summer 2022, assessed the effect of green-blue landscape configurations on OTC using Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and mean radiant temperature (Tmrt). PET values ranged from slight to extreme heat stress, with statistically significant differences in cooling intensity across varied landscape configurations. Tree shaded canal front locations registered lower Ta (1.6 °C) and Tmrt (9.3 °C). Similarly, shaded canal front locations registered 4.7 °C lower PET than sun-exposed locationsDifferent tree species showed significant variation in ΔTa, with the highest cooling effect (maximum average ΔTa of 3 °C) occurring during the morning hours. Notably Morus alba and Mangifera indica yielded the highest cooling effect, outperforming artificial and mixed shade. Eucalyptus alba, on the other hand, registered adverse comfort conditions. Denser tree canopies and attributes - canopy diameter, leaf area index, and height were strongly correlated to improved cooling performance.Additionally, increasing pervious surfaces and tree cover within 100 m of intervention areas enhanced cooling, with significant effects noted within a 25–50 m radius. This study highlights the role of green-blue infrastructure, particularly the combination of low sky-view factor (SVF), dense canopy trees, and proximity to water, in reducing heat stress. These findings offer crucial insights for climate-responsive open space design, particularly in Indian cities facing rampant urbanization and global warming.

Thermal Comfort and Restorative Benefits of Waterfront Green Spaces for College Students in Hot and Humid Regions

Global climate change presents a serious threat to the sustainable development of human society, highlighting the urgent need to develop effective adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters. Campus waterfront green spaces, integral to the blue-green infrastructure, have been demonstrated to facilitate stress recovery. However, in hot and humid regions, severe outdoor thermal conditions may impair students’ mental and physical health and cognitive function, leading to symptoms such as increased stress, anxiety, and depression. This study examined the influence of outdoor thermal environments on health recovery by selecting three different waterfront green spaces in this climate: Space A (medium water body, sky view factor (SVF) = 0.228), Space B (large water body, SVF = 0.808), and Space C (small water body, SVF = 0.292). The volunteers’ thermal comfort and the restorative benefits of these spaces were evaluated via the perceived restorativeness scale (PRS), heart rate (HR), and electrodermal activity (EDA). We found variations in the neutral physiological equivalent temperature (PET) across the spaces, with values of 28.1 °C (A), 28.9 °C (B), and 29.1 °C (C). The lowest skin conductance recovery rate (RSC) at 0.8811 was observed in Space B, suggesting suboptimal physiological recovery, despite higher scores in psychological recovery (fascination) at 15.23. The level of thermal comfort in this hot and humid region showed a negative correlation with the overall PRS score, the “being away” dimension, and heart rate recovery (RHR). At a lightly warm stress level, where PET increased from 31.0 to 35.7 °C, RSC peaked between 1.45 and 1.53 across all spaces. These insights provide guidance for urban designers and planners in creating waterfront green space designs that can improve the urban microclimate and promote thermal health, achieving sustainable health.

Improvement of thermal environment in the outdoor atrium by employing the spray system

Outdoor atriums have recently been applied with increasing frequency for natural illumination, but they produce a harsh thermal environment easily in summer. Moreover, overheating of the outdoor atrium necessitates air-conditioning to moderate indoor thermal comfort. Simultaneously, the substantial heat emissions from air-conditioning outdoor units worsen the outdoor thermal environment, creating a vicious cycle. Traditional passive evaporative methods involving water and greenery, while capable of regulating the thermal environment, suffer from low evaporative efficiency and pose significant challenges. To improve thermal environment in outdoor atriums, the spray system was employed due to its high cooling efficiency, especially in open or semi-open spaces. In this study, a comparative experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using a spray system for evaporative cooling in open outdoor spaces. Furthermore, employing high-efficiency evaporative cooling through spraying to disrupt the vicious cycle of indoor and outdoor thermal environments. The dual goals include regulating indoor and outdoor thermal conditions while also mitigating the local heat island effect. Temperature and humidity distribution within the atrium and adjacent hallways were monitored, along with the impact on air-conditioning operation consumption in neighboring offices. Results showed that the spray system significantly improved the thermal environment in the outdoor atrium, reducing the average and peak air temperatures by 0.94–2.83 °C and 2.92–5.21 °C, respectively. It also resulted in a drop in the average temperature by 0.56–1.62 °C and the peak temperature by 2.31–3.25 °C in adjacent hallways. This effectively eased the issue of overheating in these areas while raising the comfort level in adjacent office spaces. The predicted mean vote decreased from 1.46 to 0.87, indicating a significant improvement in thermal environment in neighboring offices. Furthermore, the daily energy consumption was reduced by 10.6–12.4% in neighboring offices. This study provided the valuable guidance for improving thermal environments within outdoor atrium.

Investigating the potential of street trees in mitigating pedestrian thermal stress during heatwaves conditions: An empirical study in Guangzhou

Given the escalating urban heat island phenomenon and increasing frequency of heatwaves across the globe, many recent studies have focused on protecting human health from outdoor heat stress. Public commuting was the primary transportation way. However, there has been a significant oversight regarding the specific issue of heat stress encountered by commuters, particularly pedestrians on sidewalks lacking sufficient shade. This research gap leaves certain urban residents highly vulnerable to the negative effects of heatwaves. To address this issue, the thermal walking method was employed in this study to evaluate the physical thermal stress and thermal perceptions of Guangzhou residents during their commutes. Additionally, this study developed a regression model to evaluate the heat tolerance of street trees and their impact on pedestrians' experiences. The findings indicate that street trees substantially influence key thermal environment indicators, particularly solar radiation and surface temperature. These trees also play a pivotal role in shaping pedestrians' perceptions of thermal sensations by affecting the intensity, sequence, and duration of their exposure to heat. Significant variations were found in pedestrians' experiences under different street trees, mainly due to the trees’ rebound effects. Pedestrians exhibit a higher heat tolerance when the ΔUTCI of this rebound effect surpasses 6 °C (TCV >1 and TAV ≥ −0.01), indicating a generally favourable response to the prevailing outdoor thermal conditions. This research offers valuable insights into the cooling effects of street trees, which may help city planners improve urban living standards through feasible, nature-oriented strategies.

Integrating vertical greenery for complex building patterns towards sustainable urban environment

Rapid urbanization has increased the urban density and functional diversity, exacerbating environmental challenges such as urban heat islands (UHI), increased building energy consumption and carbon emissions, etc., hindering the sustainable urban development. Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions that could offer the strategic cooling of urban buildings. Vertical greenery, affixed to building façades, offers a promising approach to provide benefits of cooling, energy savings, carbon reduction and urban space saving. However, there is a lack of quantitative design for integrating vertical greenery into complex urban buildings. Therefore, this study conducts a systematic investigation for low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise buildings incorporating vertical greenery, while performing comprehensive assessments on indoor and outdoor thermal conditions, building energy usage, and carbon emissions. The findings suggest that low-rise buildings benefit from a vertical greenery layout, while mid-rise and high-rise buildings are better suited for a horizontal greenery layout. Compared to scenarios without greenery, buildings with vertical greenery experience a maximum reduction of 0.66 °C in outdoor air temperature and 0.72 °C in indoor air temperature, along with a 5.9 % decrease in energy consumption and carbon emissions. This study addresses urban challenges through a quantified vertical greenery design, offering valuable insights for sustainable urban development.

The impact of local microclimates and Urban Greening Factor on schools’ thermal conditions during summer: A study in Coventry, UK

Thermal comfort in schools affects children's wellbeing and educational outcomes. Global warming and frequent heatwaves have worsened the overheating issue in schools, especially in Western European countries, like the UK. While previous studies have mainly focused on residential and commercial buildings, school-related research often emphasised indoor thermal conditions, neglecting the broader influence of microclimates on the overall thermal conditions. Therefore, this research explores the thermal conditions in schools, during the summer of 2023, with a specific focus on the impact of greenery and materials. Urban Greening Factor (UGF) and its relationship with indoor and outdoor air temperatures were explored for the first time.Field studies were conducted in four primary schools in Coventry, UK, measuring indoor air temperatures and micrometeorological parameters. Tree shade demonstrated a substantial cooling effect, reducing air temperature and mean radiant temperature by up to 6.4 °C and 22.9 °C, respectively. Considerable difference between measured air temperatures in sunlight and official meteorological records highlights the need for microclimatic studies in schools. Thermal imagery identified high surface temperatures on artificial grass (67 °C) and asphalt (55 °C). Urban Greening Factor showed a strong correlation with classroom temperatures but failed to account for spatial greenery distribution and subsequently outdoor thermal conditions. The study concludes that optimising tree shade and replacing dark and artificial materials, are necessary for effective heat mitigation, offering valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners to create thermally comfortable and sustainable school environments.

Field test of machine-learning based mean radiant temperature estimation methods for thermal comfort-integrated air-conditioning control improvement and energy savings

Advanced control strategies for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems aim to enhance both buildings' energy efficiency and occupant thermal comfort. Despite their potential, real-world demonstration studies on such advanced technologies are still lacking. This study presents a field demonstration of a real-time predicted mean vote (PMV)-based HVAC control strategy in a typical residential building under hot and dry climate conditions. This study introduces an advanced thermal comfort-based controller (TCC) for the PMV-based HVAC control. TCC continually assesses indoor and outdoor thermal conditions and adjusts the HVAC setpoint temperature to optimize real-time energy use while ensuring satisfactory indoor thermal comfort. Machine learning models for the PMV-based HVAC control system are employed to estimate a mean radiant temperature (MRT) point, which is one of the variables used to calculate real-time PMV values. Three machine learning models (i.e., linear regression, regression trees, and artificial neural network) are adopted in this study with non-stationary real-time input values, including times, pre-determined setpoints, and indoor and outdoor temperatures. The developed TCC is installed in a full-scale experimental house in Kuwait, which is under hot and dry climate conditions, to assess the house's indoor thermal comfort and AC energy efficiency performance. Results indicate that the TCC provides better thermal comfort performance compared to the non-TCC case, including up to a 60% improvement in PMV. The proposed TCC controlled by the machine learning methods demonstrates HVAC energy savings potential of over 20% while meeting the desired thermal comfort levels in the experimental building. These findings are expected to be valuable, as they can contribute to reducing cooling energy in residential buildings in hot and dry climate conditions.

Decreasing the energy demand in public buildings using nature-based solutions: case studies from Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia) and Osijek (Republic of Croatia)

BackgroundNature-based solutions (NBS) in urban areas offer an opportunity to improve environmental conditions and to reduce CO2 emissions towards establishing climate-neutral cities in the next few decades. Furthermore, the implementation of NBSs—vertical or horizontal green infrastructures on public facilities—could in particular improve both climate, including outdoor thermal conditions on a micro-scale (especially during the summer season) and the energy demand of buildings as well as save heating energy during the winter period.ResultsOn both selected buildings, extensive green roofs were implemented as an NBS intervention. The analysed data were obtained using the monitoring systems (from 2019 to 2022) installed on two public buildings in Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia) and Osijek (Republic of Croatia), with a focus on climate/bioclimate characteristics and thermal transmission capacities. Four automatic weather stations (AWS) were used for microclimate monitoring, along with the heat flow meter (HFM) method, to measure the alterations in the thermal transmittance (U value) of a flat concrete roof before and after energy refurbishment and the installation of a green roof. The outcomes of this study show that the air temperatures (Ta) and globe temperatures (Tg) near the green roof are lower by 0–3 °C for Ta and by 0–16.5 °C for Tg than the values captured by the AWSs at other locations. An even more interesting fact is that the green roof has a constant cooling potential during tropical nights, and based upon this research, the cooling value is around 2 °C for Tg (the Ta value is not distinct). The thermal transmittance results show that more savings can be achieved by applying a green roof with an 8 cm thick substrate: U values decreased by 50–69%, as measured by two different heat flux sensors.ConclusionsNature-based solutions, such as the implementation of an extensive green roof, have positive effects on diverse aspects of urban environments and building energy savings, which are particularly evident in extreme seasons, both summer and winter. Applying the proposed monitoring and assessment system could help local communities in their efforts to reduce carbon-based emissions. This paper provides a good example of the implementation of NBSs on a local- and a micro-scale.

Cooling operation strategies in a typical neighborhood mosque: A Case study on electricity consumption, CO2 emissions, and thermal comfort

Mosques are used five times daily by Muslims. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain adequate thermal conditions in mosques in the hot summer months. In this study, a simulation model was developed in the DesignBuilder program to investigate various operation strategies of two air conditioners (A/Cs) used for cooling of a typical medium-sized uninsulated neighborhood mosque. The A/Cs operation strategies were as follows: Case-I: continuous A/Cs operation, Case-II: intermittent A/Cs operation during prayer times (starting 10, 20, 30 or 60 min before daily prayers except Fajr prayers), Case-III: A/Cs operating at night (from the Isha prayer until the end of the Fajr prayer), Case-IV: A/Cs operated during the day (from the Fajr prayer to the end of the Isha prayer), and Case-V: A/Cs operated during the afternoon (from the Zuhr prayer until the end of the Isha prayer). The predicted percentage of dissatisfied reached up to 30 % during the Asr prayer despite continuous operation in Case-I. Adequate thermal conditions could not be achieved in the other cases either. All cases, except Case-II (operation before and during prayer times), required higher electricity consumption than that of the invoice data. Therefore, it is recommended to adapt the A/Cs capacity based on changes in outdoor and indoor thermal conditions and focus on zonal cooling in the mosque.

Employing the spray system to alleviate the thermal action of air-conditioning in summer

Widespread adoption of air-conditioning significantly enhances indoor thermal comfort in summer, but the heat dissipation from these outdoor units contributes to an increase in ambient air temperature, exacerbating urban heat island effects. Consequently, as outdoor thermal conditions worsen, the energy consumption associated with air-conditioning is likely to escalate. The spray system becomes a suitable choice due to the obvious advantage of heat absorption through the droplet evaporation. To assess the effectiveness of the spray system in reducing heat release, a comparative study was conducted between two identical buildings with the same air-conditioning system, but only one of which incorporated the spray system. Three installed locations are considered with the spray location in inlet (Case 1), outlet (Case 2) and both inlet & outlet (Case 3) of outdoor units. The results demonstrated the average temperatures of air outlet were reduced by 4.0 °C, 6.3 °C, and 7.9 °C for Cases 1–3, respectively, accompanied by a reduction in energy consumption of the air-conditioning system by 18.8%, 13.9%, and 37.3% respectively. The most significant benefits were observed when the spray location was installed in both outdoor unit inlet and outlet (Case 3). The spray system established a virtuous cycle in heat dissipation improvement, evaporation enhancement, and air temperature reduction.

Thermal Performance of Vernacular Stilt House in Palu City

The stilt house is one of vernacular architecture features in Indonesia. Several stilt vernacular houses persist until 70 to 100 years old in Palu City. Stilt house forms were proved to be adaptive to tropical climates. This research provides evidence of a thermally comfortable interior created by the vernacular stilt house of Palu City. The research was carried out in two stages: field measurement and thermal comfort value analysis, based on SNI 03-6572-2001 standards. Purposive sampling was used to determine the research sample for vernacular stilt houses. The selected stilt house is located on Anoa street No 57, North Tatura Ward, Palu City. Field measurement was performed to record the indoor and outdoor thermal condition of the sample house employing Hobo Onset U12-012 RH-Light data logger and Hobo H-22 microclimate station. The results show that the outdoor air temperature peak is 36.8°C with 45% humidity. Meanwhile, the indoor peak temperature on the 1st floor reached 32°C with 51% humidity. On the 2nd floor, there are five rooms with peak temperatures ranging from 29.5°C to 34.6°C with 53% to 64% humidity, indicating that each room has a different temperature performance. This condition is due to several parameters, such as ceiling height, roof shape, opening size, room layout, and room orientation. The result also showed that the indoor air temperature tends to be lower than the outdoor air temperature. Hence, it is indicated that the design strategies of the sample building are adaptive to the tropical warm and humid conditions of Palu.

Impact of urban outdoor thermal conditions on selected hospital admissions in Novi Sad, Serbia

Climate change has been recognized as an important issue in public health, with particular concerns being raised about the effects of heat and cold extremes on health, and about seasonal changes over the year and their associations with increased mortality and hospitalizations. This paper explored the relationship between physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions in Novi Sad (Serbia) with the aim of assessing the impact of urban outdoor thermal conditions on health. Analysis was performed using daily data on cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions by gender covering the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. For the same period, PET was calculated using data from two urban meteorological network stations. The association between PET and hospital admissions was examined using a generalized additive model (GAM) combined with a distributed lag non-linearmodel (DLNM). The study found a non-linear relationship between PET and cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions, with a larger impact during the cold period of the year. The findings also indicated that under conditions of high PET, the cumulative RR increased for cardiovascular admissions (for males) and respiratory admissions (for females). People with pre-existing respiratory diseases were found to be more vulnerable under conditions of extremely low and moderately low PET, with a greater effect at lag 0–14 days. By contrast, for people with cardiovascular diseases, low PET was linked to a decrease in hospital admissions, with the risk being lowest at lag 0 and 0–3 days.

Investigation of Outdoor Thermal Comfort for Campus Pedestrian Walkways in Thailand

Thermal comfort is an important subject to evaluate the quality of outdoor environments. This study investigated outdoor thermal conditions and the thermal comfort perception of pedestrians using walkways within a university campus in Thailand, located in the hot and humid tropical region. In this field study, microclimate measurements were conducted to assess the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) of walkways, and on-site questionnaire surveys (n = 400) were used to evaluate the thermal sensation votes of pedestrians in different walkway conditions. The results revealed that the neutral PET was 25.2 °C and its acceptable range was 24.6–32.0 °C. Most pedestrians accept the thermal conditions of all walkway types but at different levels of acceptability, albeit in a slightly warm sensation. Among different walkway types, the cantilever-covered walkway with sparse trees yields the closest PET to the neutral PET. The most comfortable and favorable walkway is that with a lower air temperature, less sunlight, and higher wind ventilation. The studies on the outdoor thermal comfort of pedestrian walkways could benefit urban planners and engineers in designing physical and environmental conditions of walkways as well as promoting non-motorized transport and green university campuses.

Does the spatial configuration of urban parks matter in ameliorating extreme heat?

Extreme heat challenges the liveability of cities. Urban parks are popular as an efficient mitigative solution; however, uncertainties remain regarding whether and how the spatial configuration affects the effectiveness in practice. This paper tackles this issue by comparing the microclimatic amelioration potential of urban parks with the same green ratio in different spatial configurations. The study was conducted using microscale climate simulation in ENVI-met within three highly developed urban settings in Melbourne City, Australia, on 30th January 2009, during one of the most intense heatwave events. Hourly simulated data were extracted from all outdoor grids, encompassing nine heat-related indices, including meteorological variables, thermal comfort variables, and energy balance components. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of spatial configuration on improving outdoor thermal conditions. The results highlight a significant influence of spatial configuration in microclimate amelioration, and that these effects were context-specific, and no universally effective design emerged across locations, even within the same city. The findings underscore the necessity of considering other factors, such as surface cover characteristics and building configurations, and emphasise the importance of conducting site-specific simulations when introducing green infrastructure for heat mitigation.

A Comparative Analysis of Outdoor Thermal Comfort Indicators Applied in China and Other Countries

Outdoor thermal comfort is an important criterion for evaluating the quality of outdoor activity environments and is also a significant indicator for assessing sustainable building design. Over the past century, more than 165 indoor and outdoor thermal comfort indexes have been developed to define human thermal comfort conditions under various circumstances and to quantify indoor and outdoor thermal environmental conditions. However, in the process of outdoor thermal comfort indicators becoming widely used worldwide, it remains a pressing research issue to compare the current state of application in China and other countries, identify the key areas of application for both sides, and outline the trends in outdoor thermal comfort index application. This study analyzed 346 articles on outdoor thermal comfort indicators. Employing bibliometric methods, we outline the general landscape of outdoor thermal comfort index applications in China and other countries. Additionally, we utilize comparative analysis to uncover similarities and differences in the research focus on outdoor thermal comfort. The research findings indicate the following: (1) Compared to China, other countries started outdoor thermal comfort index application research earlier. Their papers have higher average citation counts and engage in close academic collaborations. However, the quantity of published papers is fewer than in China. (2) The top five frequently used indexes in both China and other countries are PET (including mPET), UTCI, PMV, SET* (including OUT_SET*), and THI (including DI). China tends to use PET and UTCI more frequently than other countries. (3) The potential future directions for outdoor thermal comfort index applications in both China and other countries include: “monitoring and controlling regional outdoor thermal comfort at the temporal and spatial scales”, “multi-factors coupling effects on outdoor thermal comfort”, “human health assessment and prediction based on outdoor thermal comfort”, and “utilizing computational algorithms to calculate outdoor thermal comfort”. This study can serve as a reference for researchers and designers in the industry, contributing to the creation of sustainable outdoor environments.

Assessing the influence of neighborhood urban form on outdoor thermal conditions in the hot dry city of Biskra, Algeria

The quality of the thermal urban environment plays a vital role in outdoor human activities and the overall quality of life in residential neighborhoods. This study investigated the influence of two urban form variables, the height to width ratio (H/W) and sky view factor (SVF), on three outdoor thermal environmental parameters (OTEP), direct solar radiation (DSR), mean radiant temperature (MRT), and air temperature (AT) in three neighborhoods in the hot and dry city of Biskra, Algeria. The research followed a three-step process: Three neighborhoods with varying urban form variables were selected, and field measurements of thermal parameters were conducted at various locations during the hottest period of the year. Numerical modeling, simulation, and validation using Envi-met were then performed to gather the remaining outdoor thermal environmental parameters (OTEP; DSR and MRT). Statistical modeling and regression analysis were conducted to investigate the interaction between urban form variables and OTEP. The results showed that increasing the H/W ratio by 1 reduces MRT and AT by 11.79 °C and 1.49 °C, respectively, while decreasing the SVF by 0.1 reduces MRT and AT by 4.173 °C and 0.479 °C, respectively.

Evaluating the Impact of Trees on Residential Thermal Conditions in Los Angeles Using Community Science

As the planet warms, heat-vulnerable communities in cities face increased heat-related risks including lost productivity, reduced learning outcomes, illness, and death. Despite the growing threat of heat, effective approaches to alleviate urban heat are available. Tree planting has received investment in a growing number of cities around the world, but there are significant gaps in our understanding of the cooling potential of trees in the urban context, particularly the impacts on indoor spaces where urban dwellers spend most of their time. Our study engaged community scientists in Los Angeles County, USA to collect data on the impacts of trees on indoor and outdoor thermal conditions in residential sites. Participants created a thermal sensor network that contributed continuous readings for the study period. We mimicked an experimental research design using a difference-in-differences approach where “treehouses” with more trees and “non-treehouses” with fewer trees were compared on hot days (>90°F or 32°C) and non-hot days. We found that on hot days indoor temperatures in treehouses warm less than in non-treehouses, but that trees provide relatively less benefit at night. We also found that exposure to extreme heat reaches dangerous levels in older residences without trees or air conditioning. underscoring the need for swift action to cool heat-vulnerable communities.

A novel artificial neural network methodology to produce high-resolution bioclimatic maps using Earth Observation data: A case study for Cyprus

The aim of this research is to propose a novel methodology that exploits Earth Observation (EO) data to accurately produce high-resolution bioclimatic maps at large spatiotemporal scales. This method directly links EO products (i.e., land surface temperature - LST and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI) to air temperature (Tair) and such thermal indices as the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) to produce large-scale high-quality bioclimatic maps at a spatial resolution of 100 m. The proposed methodology is based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), and the bioclimatic maps are developed with the use of Geographical Information Systems. High-resolution LST maps are produced from the spatial downscaling of EO images and the application of the methodology in the case of the island of Cyprus highlights the ability of EO parameters to estimate accurately Tair as well as the above mentioned thermal indices. The results are validated for different conditions and the overall Mean Absolute Error for each case ranges from 1.9 °C for Tair to 2.8 °C for PET and UTCI. The trained ANNs could be used in near real-time for estimating the spatial distribution of outdoor thermal conditions and for assessing the relationship between human health and the outdoor thermal environment. On the basis of the developed bioclimatic maps, high-risk areas were identified. Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between land cover and Tair, UTCI, and PET, and the results provide evidence of the suitability of the method to monitor the dynamics of the urban environment and the effectiveness of urban nature-based solutions. Studies on bioclimate analysis monitor thermal environment, raise awareness and enhance the capacity of national public health systems to respond to thermally-induced health risks.

A thermal response in architecture: Case study (Malaysian residential)

This study aims to create an awareness of the indoor and outdoor thermal conditions of a design and how design influences the outcome of as a responsive design. The desirable and undesirable thermal conditions are considered, and an analysis of the cause-and-effect is discussed. While thermal conditions, and its cause-and-effect considerations may be directed to any building, achieving an ideal solution requires careful integration of thermal comfort principles. Refinement through the understanding of thermal comfort principles can achieve significant energy saving without necessarily sacrificing functionality or aesthetics. Precedent studies are being discussed to see the benefits and usage of the materials based on the intention of the design and the function of the space that would impact the indoor quality environment. Based of field observation, data collection and result analysis, solutions are proposed to two different local residential buildings. Key finding shows different design factors, materials and operative conditions can influence the thermal performances of buildings. This analysis may help to improve energy efficiency in built environment and to be used for further study in thermal response in architecture while investigating new ways to design building walls that could possibly be modularized in the future with both external and internal design considerations. This intention is to be further explored with first the basic understandings of layering of materials before the simulations into the spaces.