Parameterization of Sports Playground Experiments Applying a Hybrid Method to Analyze Microclimate and Outdoor Thermal Comfort

Parametric simulation is an effective engineering tool for addressing sustainability challenges, yet small-scale thermal comfort assessment remains limited by plugin-hybridizing complexities and workflow inefficiencies. To address these limitations, here we propose a novel comparative workflow that integrates Lands Design and Dragonfly with the assistance of Ladybug-only (LB) and Honeybee (LB&HB) in the Grasshopper model to predict the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) as the primary indicator. A playground was selected as a sample site to provide a comprehensive training dataset for the extremely hot summer period. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the impact of input uncertainties on model predictions, and the simulation model’s performance was validated against urban–rural microclimate parameters and the calculated UTCI. Among the microclimate results tested, the wind speed and air temperature predictions achieved the highest accuracy (STDE: 0.10 m/s, 0.20 °C). The UTCI simulation of the LB workflow exhibited a strong correlation between calculated UTCI values (R 2 = 0.90; p = 0.03). Moreover, the agreement between the LB and LB&HB workflows was strong, with simulated UTCI showing good consistency (R 2 = 0.70–0.80; r = 0.85–0.88). This framework successfully enables real-time UTCI heatmap analysis in simplified cubic neighborhoods. Additionally, it improves the temporal and spatial resolution of thermal predictions, providing designers with critical insights into the algorithms implemented in new workflows to facilitate urban simulation and parametric sustainability.