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Thermal Comfort in Outdoor Urban Spaces: analysis across different European countries

Nikolopoulou, Marialena, Lykoudis, Spyros (2006) Thermal Comfort in Outdoor Urban Spaces: analysis across different European countries. Building and Environment, 41 (11). pp. 1455-1470. ISSN 0360-1323. (doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.05.031) (KAR id:28458)

Abstract

This paper presents some of the findings of the European project, RUROS, primarily concerned with the environmental and comfort conditions of open spaces in cities. The results of the microclimatic and human monitoring, in relation to the thermal environment and comfort conditions in open spaces are presented. The database consists of nearly 10,000 from field surveys in 14 different case study sites, across 5 different countries in Europe. The findings confirm a strong relationship between microclimatic and comfort conditions, with air temperature and solar radiation being important determinants of comfort, although one parameter alone is not sufficient for the assessment of thermal comfort conditions. Overall comfort levels are over 75% for all cities on a yearly basis. There is also strong evidence for adaptation taking place, both physically, with the seasonal variation in clothing and changes to the metabolic rate, as well as psychologically. Recent experience and expectations play a major role and are responsible for a variation over 10 °C of neutral temperatures, largely following the profile of the respective climatic temperatures on a seasonal basis, across Europe. In this context, perceived choice over a source of discomfort is another important parameter for people in open spaces.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.05.031
Projects: RUROS: REDISCOVERING THE URBAN REALM AND OPEN SPACES
Subjects: N Visual Arts > NA Architecture
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > Kent School of Architecture and Planning
Funders: European Commission (https://ror.org/00k4n6c32)
Depositing User: Marialena Nikolopoulou
Date Deposited: 21 Nov 2011 16:39 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2022 10:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/28458 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Nikolopoulou, Marialena.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-2145
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