Human Thermal Sensation and Comfort of Urban Areas: Observations, Simulations and Predictions

Dear Colleagues,

The global urban population reached 55% in 2018 and is estimated to reach 68% by 2050. Human habitats in densely populated urban areas are more vulnerable to climate change due to having massive impervious pavements, artificial structures and less vegetation. These thermally vulnerable urban environments seriously influence urban dweller’s everyday living and well-being.

Human thermal sensation and comfort have been developed based on the human energy balance (budget) model in aspects of thermophysiological and psychological influence from surrounding environments. Many previous studies collected dynamic (micro-)climate data for various urban settings, simulated numerous urban areas to analyze their thermal conditions using computer programs, and predicted changes in urban thermal environments resulting from countermeasures for thermal modification and urban development. However, due to the lack of implementable information of sufficient detail, the results were not sufficient for urban planners and landscape architects to plan and design thermally comfortable urban environments.

This Special Issue will explore adoptable knowledge from measured and the results of computer simulated human thermal sensation and comfort—rather than singular (micro-)climatic data (e.g., air temperature or wind speed)—in various urban settings for use in urban and landscape planning/design. The papers will include field measurements of (micro-)climatic data and/or surveys, computer simulation results with validation processes through measured (micro-) climatic data, or predicted information from scenarios of countermeasures for thermal modification and urban development. Each paper will include a description of how its content can be implemented in urban and landscape planning/design.

Prof. Dr. Sookuk Park
Guest Editor

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• urban environment
• thermal modification
• urban climate
• urban planning
• landscape architecture
• energy balance
• countermeasures