IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i19p5387-d271916.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of Landscape Microclimates on Thermal Comfort and Physiological Wellbeing

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/19/5387/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/19/5387/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    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. Bernhard Scharf & Martha Kogler & Florian Kraus & Igone Garcia Perez & Laura Gutierrez Garcia, 2021. "NBS Impact Evaluation with GREENPASS Methodology Shown by the Case Study ‘Fischbeker Höfe’ in Hamburg/Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    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.

    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. H. Allen Klaiber & Joshua K. Abbott & V. Kerry Smith, 2017. "Some Like It (Less) Hot: Extracting Trade-Off Measures for Physically Coupled Amenities," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(4), pages 1053-1079.
    2. Susan Williams & Peng Bi & Jonathan Newbury & Guy Robinson & Dino Pisaniello & Arthur Saniotis & Alana Hansen, 2013. "Extreme Heat and Health: Perspectives from Health Service Providers in Rural and Remote Communities in South Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Weihua Dong & Zhao Liu & Lijie Zhang & Qiuhong Tang & Hua Liao & Xian'en Li, 2014. "Assessing Heat Health Risk for Sustainability in Beijing’s Urban Heat Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-24, October.
    4. Fei Li & Tan Yigitcanlar & Madhav Nepal & Kien Nguyen Thanh & Fatih Dur, 2022. "Understanding Urban Heat Vulnerability Assessment Methods: A PRISMA Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-34, September.
    5. Sara Wilkinson & Renato Castiglia Feitosa, 2015. "Retrofitting Housing with Lightweight Green Roof Technology in Sydney, Australia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-18, January.
    6. De Valck, Jeremy & Beames, Alistair & Liekens, Inge & Bettens, Maarten & Seuntjens, Piet & Broekx, Steven, 2019. "Valuing urban ecosystem services in sustainable brownfield redevelopment," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 139-149.
    7. Tao Chen & Anchang Sun & Ruiqing Niu, 2019. "Effect of Land Cover Fractions on Changes in Surface Urban Heat Islands Using Landsat Time-Series Images," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Vaneckova, Pavla & Beggs, Paul J. & Jacobson, Carol R., 2010. "Spatial analysis of heat-related mortality among the elderly between 1993 and 2004 in Sydney, Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(2), pages 293-304, January.
    9. Wei Zhang & Phil McManus & Elizabeth Duncan, 2018. "A Raster-Based Subdividing Indicator to Map Urban Heat Vulnerability: A Case Study in Sydney, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, November.
    10. Maria Papathoma-Koehle & Catrin Promper & Roxana Bojariu & Roxana Cica & András Sik & Kinga Perge & Peter László & Erika Balázs Czikora & Alexandru Dumitrescu & Cosmin Turcus & Marius-Victor Birsan & , 2016. "A common methodology for risk assessment and mapping for south-east Europe: an application for heat wave risk in Romania," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 82(1), pages 89-109, May.
    11. Qunshan Zhao & Elizabeth A. Wentz, 2016. "A MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) Imagery for Urban Heat Island Research," Data, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, June.
    12. Wenwen Cheng & J. O. Spengler & Robert D. Brown, 2020. "A Comprehensive Model for Estimating Heat Vulnerability of Young Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, August.
    13. Shalin Bidassey-Manilal & Caradee Yael Wright & Thandi Kapwata & Joyce Shirinde, 2020. "A Study Protocol to Determine Heat-Related Health Impacts among Primary Schoolchildren in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-12, July.
    14. Yuan-Bin Cai & Ke Li & Yan-Hong Chen & Lei Wu & Wen-Bin Pan, 2021. "The Changes of Heat Contribution Index in Urban Thermal Environment: A Case Study in Fuzhou," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    15. Leeann Kuehn & Sabrina McCormick, 2017. "Heat Exposure and Maternal Health in the Face of Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-13, July.
    16. Weihua Dong & Zhao Liu & Hua Liao & Qiuhong Tang & Xian’en Li, 2015. "New climate and socio-economic scenarios for assessing global human health challenges due to heat risk," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 505-518, June.
    17. Mabon, Leslie & Shih, Wan-Yu, 2018. "What might ‘just green enough’ urban development mean in the context of climate change adaptation? The case of urban greenspace planning in Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 224-238.
    18. João Monteiro & Nuno Sousa & João Coutinho-Rodrigues & Eduardo Natividade-Jesus, 2024. "Challenges Ahead for Sustainable Cities: An Urban Form and Transport System Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-26, January.
    19. Rehana Shrestha & Johannes Flacke & Javier Martinez & Martin Van Maarseveen, 2016. "Environmental Health Related Socio-Spatial Inequalities: Identifying “Hotspots” of Environmental Burdens and Social Vulnerability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, July.
    20. Yizhou Wu & Yueer Wu & Yaxin Pan, 2024. "Sustainability Optimization Method of Built Environment with Integrated Physical Environment and Virtual Perception Simulation: A Case Study of Campus Open Space," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-26, October.

    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:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:19:p:5387-:d:271916. 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.