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Effect of Landscape Microclimates on Thermal Comfort and Physiological Wellbeing

Author

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  • Binyi Liu

    (Department of Landscape Study, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Zefeng Lian

    (Department of Landscape Study, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Robert D. Brown

    (Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA)

Abstract

Global climate change and intensifying heat islands have reduced human thermal comfort and health in urban outdoor environments. However, there has been little research that has focused on how microclimates affect human thermal comfort, both psychologically and physiologically. We investigated the effect of a range of landscape microclimates on human thermal comfort and health using questionnaires and physiological measurements, including skin temperature, skin conductance, and heart rate variability, and compared the results with the effect of prevailing climate conditions in open spaces. We observed that in landscape microclimates, thermal sensation votes significantly decreased from 1.18 ± 0.66 (warm–hot) to 0.23 ± 0.61 (neutral–slightly warm), and thermal comfort increased from 1.18 ± 0.66 (uncomfortable–neutral) to 0.23 ± 0.61 (neutral–comfortable). In the landscape microclimates, skin temperature and skin conductance decreased 0.3 ± 0.8 °C and 0.6 ± 1.0 μs, respectively, while in the control, these two parameters increased by 0.5 ± 0.9 °C and 0.2 ± 0.7 μs, respectively. Further, in landscape microclimates, subject heart rate variability increased significantly. These results suggest landscape microclimates improve human thermal comfort and health, both psychologically and physiologically. These findings can provide an evidence base that will assist urban planners in designing urban environments for the health and wellbeing of residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Binyi Liu & Zefeng Lian & Robert D. Brown, 2019. "Effect of Landscape Microclimates on Thermal Comfort and Physiological Wellbeing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:19:p:5387-:d:271916
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harlan, Sharon L. & Brazel, Anthony J. & Prashad, Lela & Stefanov, William L. & Larsen, Larissa, 2006. "Neighborhood microclimates and vulnerability to heat stress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(11), pages 2847-2863, December.
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    2. Xuefei Wang & Zhiqi Chen & Dawei Ma & Tingting Zhou & Jintang Chen & Xing Jiang, 2023. "Relationship between Visual and Thermal Comfort and Electrodermal Activity in Campus Blue–Green Spaces: A Case Study of Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Kenneth Y. T. Lim & Minh Anh Nguyen Duc & Minh Tuan Nguyen Thien & Rajamanickam Yuvaraj & Jack S. Fogarty, 2022. "Investigating the Effects of Microclimate on Physiological Stress and Brain Function with Data Science and Wearables," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-35, August.
    4. Jiang Li & Qiao Pan & You Peng & Tao Feng & Shaobo Liu & Xiaoxi Cai & Chixing Zhong & Yicheng Yin & Wenbo Lai, 2020. "Perceived Quality of Urban Wetland Parks: A Second-Order Factor Structure Equation Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Zefeng Lian & Binyi Liu & Robert D. Brown, 2023. "Exploring the Predictive Potential of Physiological Measures of Human Thermal Strain in Outdoor Environments in Hot and Humid Areas in Summer—A Case Study of Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Jingming Qian & Shujiang Miao & Nigel Tapper & Jianguang Xie & Greg Ingleton, 2020. "Investigation on Airport Landscape Cooling Associated with Irrigation: A Case Study of Adelaide Airport, Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Zhengsong Lin & Yuting Wang & Xinyue Ye & Yuxi Wan & Tianjun Lu & Yu Han, 2022. "Effects of Low-Carbon Visualizations in Landscape Design Based on Virtual Eye-Movement Behavior Preference," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, May.
    8. Ying Zheng & Greg Keeffe & Jasna Mariotti, 2023. "Nature-Based Solutions for Cooling in High-Density Neighbourhoods in Shenzhen: A Case Study of Baishizhou," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.

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