Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A comparative analysis of human thermal conditions in outdoor urban spaces in the summer season in Singapore and Changsha, China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents the comparative analysis between the findings from two field surveys of human thermal conditions in outdoor urban spaces during the summer season. The first survey was carried out from August 2010 to May 2011 in Singapore and the second survey was carried out from June 2010 to August 2010 in Changsha, China. The physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) was utilized as the thermal index to assess the thermal conditions. Differences were found between the two city respondents in terms of thermal sensation, humidity sensation, and wind speed sensation. No big difference was found between the two city respondents regarding the sun sensation. The two city respondents had similar neutral PET of 28.1 °C for Singapore and 27.9 °C for Changsha, respectively. However, Singapore respondents were more sensitive to PET change than Changsha respondents and the acceptable PET range for Changsha respondents was wider than that for Singapore respondents. Besides, the two city respondents had different thermal expectations with the preferred PET of 25.2 °C and 22.1 °C for Singapore and Changsha, respectively. The results also reveal that Changsha respondents were more tolerant than Singapore respondents under hot conditions. Finally, two regression models were proposed for Singapore and Changsha to predict the human thermal sensation in a given outdoor thermal environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed KS (2003) Comfort in urban spaces: defining the boundaries of outdoor thermal comfort for the tropical urban environments. Energy Build 35(1):103–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASHRAE (2004) ASHRAE Standard 55-2004. Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy. ASHRAE, Atlanta

    Google Scholar 

  • Brager GS, de Dear RJ (1998) Thermal adaptation in the built environment: a literature review. Energy Build 27:83–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bröde P, Fiala D, Błażejczyk K, Holmér I, Jendritzky G, Kampmann B, Tinz B, Havenith G (2012) Deriving the operational procedure for the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Int J Biometeorol 56:481–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng V, Ng E, Chan C, Givoni B (2012) Outdoor thermal comfort study in a sub-tropical climate: a longitudinal study based in Hong Kong. Int J Biometeorol 56:43–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen P, Potchter O, Matzarakis A (2012) Daily and seasonal climatic conditions of green urban open spaces in the Mediterranean climate and their impact on human comfort. Build Environ 51:285–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colton JA, Bower KM (2002) Some misconceptions about R2. International Society of Six Sigma Professionals. Extraordin Sense 3(2):20–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowdy S, Wearden S, Chilko D (2004) Statistics for research, 3rd edn. Wiley, New Jersey

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fanger PO (1970) Thermal comfort. Danish Technical Press, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Fong M, Koon NL, Addison PD (2012) The weather and climate of Singapore. Meteorological Service Singapore, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Givoni B, Noguchi M, Hs S, Pochter O, Yaacov Y, Feller N, Becker S (2003) Outdoor comfort research issues. Energy Build 35:77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Höppe P, Seidl HAJ (1991) Problems in assessment of the bioclimate for vacationists at the seaside. Int J Biometeorol 35:107–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Höppe P (1999) The physiological equivalent temperature—a universal index for the biometeorological assessment of the thermal environment. Int J Biometeorol 43:71–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys MA, Nicol JF (1998) Understanding the adaptive approach to thermal comfort. ASHRAE Trans 104(1):991–1004

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys MA, Nicol JF, Raja IA (2007) Field studies of indoor thermal comfort and the progress of the adaptive approach. J Adv Build Energ Res 1:55–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang RL, Lin TP (2007) Thermal comfort requirements for occupants of semi-outdoor and outdoor environments in hot-humid regions. Archit Sci Rev 50(4):60–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang RL, Lin TP, Cheng MJ, Chien JH (2007) Patient thermal comfort requirement for hospital environments in Taiwan. Build Environ 42(8):2980–2987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang RL, Lin TP, Cheng MJ, Lo JH (2010) Adaptive comfort model for tree-shaded outdoors in Taiwan. Build Environ 45:1873–1879

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang RL, Lin TP, Matzarakis A (2011) Seasonal effects of urban street shading on long-term outdoor thermal comfort. Build Environ 46:863–870

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO (1985) International standard 7726. Thermal environments—instruments and methods for measuring physical quantities. International Standards Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Jendritzky G, Staiger H, Bucher K, Graetz A, Laschewski G (2000) The perceived temperature: The method of the Deutscher Wetterdienst for the assessment of cold stress and heat load for the human body. Presented at the Internet Workshop on Windchill,Meteorological Service of Canada, April 3–7, 2000

  • Kántor N, Unger J (2011) Benefits and opportunities of adopting GIS in thermal comfort studies in resting places: an urban park as an example. Landsc Urban Plan 98(1):36–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knez I, Thorsson S (2006) Influences of culture and environmental attitude on thermal, emotional and perceptual evaluations of a public square. Int J Biometeorol 50:258–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin TP, Matzarakis A (2008) Tourism climate and thermal comfort in Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan. Int J Biometeorol 52(4):281–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin TP (2009) Thermal perception, adaptation and attendance in a public square in hot and humid regions. Build Environ 44:2017–2026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin TP, Matzarakis A, Hwang RL (2010) Shading effect on long-term outdoor thermal comfort. Build Environ 45:213–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin TP, de Dear R, Hwang RL (2011) Effect of thermal adaptation on seasonal outdoor thermal comfort. Int J Climatol 31(2):302–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin TP, Tsai KT, Hwang RL, Matzarakis A (2012) Quantification of the effect of thermal indices and sky view factor on park attendance. Landsc Urban Plan 107:137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matzarakis A, Mayer H (1996) Another kind of environmental stress: thermal stress. WHO News 18:7–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Matzarakis A, Mayer H, Iziomon MG (1999) Applications of a universal thermal index: physiological equivalent temperature. Int J Biometeorol 43(2):76–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matzarakis A, Rutz F, Mayer H (2007) Modelling radiation fluxes in simple and complex environments—application of the RayMan model. Int J Biometeorol 51:323–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matzarakis A, Rutz F, Mayer H (2010) Modelling radiation fluxes in simple and complex environments: basics of the RayMan model. Int J Biometeorol 54:131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer H, Höppe P (1987) Thermal comfort of man in different urban environments. Theor Appl Climatol 38:43–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer H, Holst J, Dostal P, Imbery F, Schindler D (2008) Human thermal comfort in summer within an urban street canyon in Central Europe. Meteorol Z 17(3):241–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre DA (1980) Indoor climate. Applied Science Publishers, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng E, Cheng V (2011) Urban human thermal comfort in hot and humid Hong Kong. Energy Build. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.09.025

  • Nikolopoulou M, Baker N, Steemers K (2001) Thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces: understanding the human parameter. Solar Energy 70:227–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolopoulou M, Lykoudis S (2006) Thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces: analysis across different European countries. Build Environ 41:1455–1470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolopoulou M, Lykoudis S (2007) Use of outdoor spaces and microclimate in a Mediterranean urban area. Build Environ 42(10):3691–3707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olesen BW, Rosendahl J, Kalisperis LN, Summers LH (1989) Methods for measuring and evaluating the thermal radiation in a room. ASHRAE Trans 95:1028–1044

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira S, Andrade H (2007) An initial assessment of the bioclimatic comfort in an outdoor public space in Lisbon. Intern J Biometeorol 52:69–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spagnolo J, de Dear RJ (2003) A field study of thermal comfort in outdoor and semi-outdoor environments in subtropical Sydney Australia. Build Environ 38:721–738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorsson S, Lindqvist M, Lindqvist S (2004) Thermal bioclimatic conditions and patterns of behaviour in an urban park in Göteborg, Sweden. Int J Biometeorol 48:149–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorsson S, Lindberg F, Eliasson I, Holmer B (2007) Different methods for estimating the mean radiant temperature in an outdoor urban setting. Int J Climatol 27:1983–1993

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VDI (1998) VDI 3787. Part I: Environmental meteorology, methods for the human biometeorological evaluation of climate and air quality for the urban and regional planning at regional level. Part I. Climate. VDI/DIN-Handbuch Reinhaltung der Luft, Band 1b, Dusseldorf

  • Wong NH, Khoo SS (2003) Thermal comfort in classrooms in tropical. Energy Build 35:337–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyon DP (1993) Thermal comfort: past, present and future. In: Oseland NA, Humphreys MA (eds) Proceedings of a Conference at the Building Research Establishment, Garston, 9–10 June 1993, Building Research Establishment, Watford

  • Yang W, Zhang G (2008) Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated and air-conditioned buildings in humid subtropical climate zone in China. Int J Biometeorol 52:385–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Wang J, Chen H, Zhang J, Meng Q (2010) Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings in hot-humid area of China. Build Environ 45:2562–2570

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work was supported by NUS Research Scholarship from National University of Singapore. We would like to thank Professor Zhang Guoqiang and his students from Hunan University, China for their help with the field measurements in Changsha.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Wei Yang

    Present address: Department of Building, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore, 117566, Singapore

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Building, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore, 117566, Singapore

    Nyuk Hien Wong

  2. College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China

    Guoqiang Zhang

Authors
  1. Wei Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nyuk Hien Wong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guoqiang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, W., Wong, N.H. & Zhang, G. A comparative analysis of human thermal conditions in outdoor urban spaces in the summer season in Singapore and Changsha, China. Int J Biometeorol 57, 895–907 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0616-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0616-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation