Thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces in Singapore

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 59; pp. 426 - 435
• Main Authors: Yang, Wei, Wong, Nyuk Hien, Jusuf, Steve Kardinal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acceptable operative temperature range; Applied sciences; Building insulation; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; Correlation analysis; Exact sciences and technology; External envelopes; Outdoor urban spaces; Thermal adaptation; Thermal comfort; Urban development; Asia; Singapore; Thermal comfort; Outdoor urban spaces; Acceptable operative temperature range; Correlation analysis; Thermal adaptation; Air conditioning; Sensation; Temperature; Urban planning; Urban area; Statistics; Outdoor study; Application; Comparative study; Adaptation; Data gathering
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.09.008

A thermal comfort study has been carried out in outdoor urban spaces in Singapore. The field study was carried out from August 2010 to May 2011. There were 2059 respondents from 13 different outdoor spaces participated in this study and 2036 effective questionnaire responses were collected. Thermal comfort perceptions and preferences were analyzed in this study. The neutral operative temperature occurred at 28.7 °C and preferred temperature was found to be 26.5 °C. Thermal acceptability analysis shows the acceptable operative temperature range was 26.3–31.7 °C in outdoor urban spaces in Singapore. Correlation analysis indicates that sun sensation/solar radiation has the most significant influence on human thermal sensation in outdoor spaces. This study also explores the impact of thermal adaptation on human thermal sensation in outdoor spaces, which could be useful for future researchers. Comparative analysis shows that people may expect a higher temperature in outdoor conditions than in semi-outdoor or indoor conditions in Singapore, suggesting that people in outdoor conditions could be more tolerant with the heat stress than people in indoor conditions in tropical climate. ► We investigate human thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces in Singapore. ► Neutral operative temperature occurred at 28.7 °C and acceptable operative temperature range was 26.3–31.7 °C. ► Sun sensation has the most significant influence on human thermal sensation. ► We make an attempt to understand the impact of thermal adaptation factors on human thermal sensation in outdoor spaces.