Design of outdoor urban spaces for thermal comfort

Abstract

Microclimates in outdoor urban spaces may be modified by controlling the wind and radiant environments in these spaces. Design guidelines were developed to specify how radiant environments may be selected or modified to provide conditions for thermal comfort. Fanger's human-thermal-comfort model was used to determine comfortable levels of radiant-heat exchange for various activities, clothing types, and climatic conditions. A comparison of these radiant quantities with measured and calculated quantities of radiant exchange expected for a person in urban spaces revealed several design guidelines.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the conference on metropolitan physical environment

Citation

Plumley, Harriet J. 1977. Design of outdoor urban spaces for thermal comfort. In: Heisler, Gordon M.; Herrington, Lee P., eds. Proceedings of the conference on metropolitan physical environment; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-25. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 152-162