IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i4p1577-d754571.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating Outdoor Thermal Comfort Using a Mixed-Method to Improve the Environmental Quality of a University Campus

Author

Listed:
  • Nasim Eslamirad

    (FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Abel Sepúlveda

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Francesco De Luca

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Kimmo Sakari Lylykangas

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia)

Abstract

Thermal comfort in cities is increasingly becoming a concern and comfortable places can be highly valuable for a variety of activities. Our investigation aims to explore how to improve the quality of cities by considering the relationship between microclimatic conditions, thermal sensation, and human preferences. The case study conducted in the open areas of Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) campus, which is quite populated by visitors, staff, and students. We used a mixed-methods approach to assess outdoor thermal comfort, based on qualitative and quantitative findings of the relationships between the measured weather conditions and the results of thermal comfort assessment through the PET index and subjectively perceived thermal sensation. In the qualitative part, data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The main conclusions from the interviews were used to design a survey and the samples. Based on the results, it was possible to identify places that offer different levels of thermal comfort. Thus, the study helps to improve thermal comfort at the campus, which is one of the goals of the Green Transition project to make the campus fully sustainable. Moreover, the methodology is applicable in different urban areas to improve urban health and sustainability and create resilient urban environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Nasim Eslamirad & Abel Sepúlveda & Francesco De Luca & Kimmo Sakari Lylykangas, 2022. "Evaluating Outdoor Thermal Comfort Using a Mixed-Method to Improve the Environmental Quality of a University Campus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:4:p:1577-:d:754571
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/4/1577/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/4/1577/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Böcker, Lars & Dijst, Martin & Faber, Jan, 2016. "Weather, transport mode choices and emotional travel experiences," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 360-373.
    2. Taleghani, Mohammad & Tenpierik, Martin & Kurvers, Stanley & van den Dobbelsteen, Andy, 2013. "A review into thermal comfort in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 201-215.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kristian Fabbri & Ernesto Antonini & Lia Marchi, 2023. "Sun-Shading Sails in Courtyards: An Italian Case Study with RayMan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cartenì, Armando & Pariota, Luigi & Henke, Ilaria, 2017. "Hedonic value of high-speed rail services: Quantitative analysis of the students’ domestic tourist attractiveness of the main Italian cities," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 348-365.
    2. Rosa Arroyo & Lidón Mars & Tomás Ruiz, 2018. "Perceptions of Pedestrian and Cyclist Environments, Travel Behaviors, and Social Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Taleghani, Mohammad, 2018. "Outdoor thermal comfort by different heat mitigation strategies- A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2011-2018.
    4. Ribeiro, Thatiana Jessica da Silva & Mady, Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian, 2022. "Comparison among exergy analysis methods applied to a human body thermal model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    5. Djamila, Harimi, 2017. "Indoor thermal comfort predictions: Selected issues and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 569-580.
    6. Wang, Nan & Wang, Julian & Feng, Yanxiao, 2022. "Systematic review: Acute thermal effects of artificial light in the daytime," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    7. Burillo, Daniel & Chester, Mikhail V. & Pincetl, Stephanie & Fournier, Eric, 2019. "Electricity infrastructure vulnerabilities due to long-term growth and extreme heat from climate change in Los Angeles County," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 943-953.
    8. Buratti, C. & Palladino, D. & Ricciardi, P., 2016. "Application of a new 13-value thermal comfort scale to moderate environments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 859-866.
    9. Chih-Hong Huang & Hsin-Hua Tsai & Hung-chen Chen, 2020. "Influence of Weather Factors on Thermal Comfort in Subtropical Urban Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-23, March.
    10. Hong, Jinhyun & Philip McArthur, David & Stewart, Joanna L., 2020. "Can providing safe cycling infrastructure encourage people to cycle more when it rains? The use of crowdsourced cycling data (Strava)," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 109-121.
    11. Calogera Chiara Bordenca & Laura Giammanco & Alessandro Albanese & Mirko Lo Faso & Domenico Rigoglioso, 2019. "Bioclimatic architecture of residential buildings," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2 Suppl.), pages 179-194.
    12. Taleghani, Mohammad & Tenpierik, Martin & van den Dobbelsteen, Andy, 2014. "Energy performance and thermal comfort of courtyard/atrium dwellings in the Netherlands in the light of climate change," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 486-497.
    13. Muhammad Awais & Sybille Krzywinski & Bianca-Michaela Wölfling & Edith Classen, 2020. "Thermal Simulation of Close-Fitting Sportswear," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, May.
    14. Van Craenendonck, Stijn & Lauriks, Leen & Vuye, Cedric & Kampen, Jarl, 2018. "A review of human thermal comfort experiments in controlled and semi-controlled environments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3365-3378.
    15. Ahmet Bircan Atmaca & Gülay Zorer Gedik & Andreas Wagner, 2021. "Determination of Optimum Envelope of Religious Buildings in Terms of Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption: Mosque Cases," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    16. Cao, Jingyu & Hong, Xiaoqiang & Zheng, Zhanying & Asim, Muhammad & Hu, Mingke & Wang, Qiliang & Pei, Gang & Leung, Michael K.H., 2020. "Performance characteristics of variable conductance loop thermosyphon for energy-efficient building thermal control," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    17. Ittamalla, Rajesh & Srinivas Kumar, Daruri Venkata, 2021. "Determinants of holistic passenger experience in public transportation: Scale development and validation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    18. Chen, Lin & Yao, Enjian & Yang, Yang & Pan, Long & Liu, ShaSha, 2024. "Understanding passengers' intermodal travel behavior to improve air-rail service: A case study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    19. Enescu, Diana, 2017. "A review of thermal comfort models and indicators for indoor environments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1353-1379.
    20. Zhu, Dianchen & Sze, N.N. & Feng, Zhongxiang & Chan, Ho-Yin, 2023. "Waiting for signalized crossing or walking to footbridge/underpass? Examining the effect of weather using stated choice experiment with panel mixed random regret minimization approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 144-169.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:4:p:1577-:d:754571. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.