Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei

With relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year, outdoor thermal comfort is important in Taiwan. Thus, we discuss thermal comfort in different density areas with A: a low density (average buildings height/Street width ratio: 1.3, SVF: 0.28), B: a mid densit...

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Main Authors: Ying-Ming Su, Janmichael Antoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/38/1/77
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author Ying-Ming Su
Janmichael Antoni
author_facet Ying-Ming Su
Janmichael Antoni
author_sort Ying-Ming Su
collection DOAJ
description With relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year, outdoor thermal comfort is important in Taiwan. Thus, we discuss thermal comfort in different density areas with A: a low density (average buildings height/Street width ratio: 1.3, SVF: 0.28), B: a mid density (H/W: 2.75, SVF: 0.14), and C: a high density (H/W: 6.88, SVF: 0.11). Data were acquired through field meteorological measurements from the three sites on typical summer days from 15 to 17 July 2022. Around the Wanhua district of Taipei City, thermal comfort was obtained through the calculation of thermal comfort indices: physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results showed that different urban density areas had different thermal comforts; streets in A were more exposed to sunlight, causing the mean radiant temperature to be the highest; C had lower solar radiation and stronger wind with the highest comfort level; and B had higher air temperature but lower radiation than A. PET contributed to uncomfortableness in A. Thermal sensation vote results showed that B had the most “uncomfortable” votes because wind speed in B was the lowest. Medium-density urban areas had enough solar exposure on the pedestrian level, but not enough wind to dissipate the heat. PET was more sensitive to mean radiant temperature. These findings provide a guideline and technical reference for urban designers to mitigate the high temperatures of summer in urban areas and improve thermal comfort to create a healthy environment and encourage people to utilize outdoor environments.
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spelling doaj.art-18462f1d6d5a4f57bffa6467321989362023-11-19T10:34:43ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912023-07-013817710.3390/engproc2023038077Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in TaipeiYing-Ming Su0Janmichael Antoni1Department of Architecture and Urban Design, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanDepartment of Architecture and Urban Design, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanWith relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year, outdoor thermal comfort is important in Taiwan. Thus, we discuss thermal comfort in different density areas with A: a low density (average buildings height/Street width ratio: 1.3, SVF: 0.28), B: a mid density (H/W: 2.75, SVF: 0.14), and C: a high density (H/W: 6.88, SVF: 0.11). Data were acquired through field meteorological measurements from the three sites on typical summer days from 15 to 17 July 2022. Around the Wanhua district of Taipei City, thermal comfort was obtained through the calculation of thermal comfort indices: physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results showed that different urban density areas had different thermal comforts; streets in A were more exposed to sunlight, causing the mean radiant temperature to be the highest; C had lower solar radiation and stronger wind with the highest comfort level; and B had higher air temperature but lower radiation than A. PET contributed to uncomfortableness in A. Thermal sensation vote results showed that B had the most “uncomfortable” votes because wind speed in B was the lowest. Medium-density urban areas had enough solar exposure on the pedestrian level, but not enough wind to dissipate the heat. PET was more sensitive to mean radiant temperature. These findings provide a guideline and technical reference for urban designers to mitigate the high temperatures of summer in urban areas and improve thermal comfort to create a healthy environment and encourage people to utilize outdoor environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/38/1/77outdoor thermal comforturban densityquestionnaire surveythermal comfort indicesurban outdoor environmentenvironmental engineering
spellingShingle Ying-Ming Su
Janmichael Antoni
Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei
Engineering Proceedings
outdoor thermal comfort
urban density
questionnaire survey
thermal comfort indices
urban outdoor environment
environmental engineering
title Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei
title_full Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei
title_fullStr Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei
title_full_unstemmed Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei
title_short Outdoor Thermal Comfort Study on Urban Areas with Various Densities in Taipei
title_sort outdoor thermal comfort study on urban areas with various densities in taipei
topic outdoor thermal comfort
urban density
questionnaire survey
thermal comfort indices
urban outdoor environment
environmental engineering
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/38/1/77
work_keys_str_mv AT yingmingsu outdoorthermalcomfortstudyonurbanareaswithvariousdensitiesintaipei
AT janmichaelantoni outdoorthermalcomfortstudyonurbanareaswithvariousdensitiesintaipei