Understanding the effects of microclimate on the behavior of people in urban public spaces

Abstract

Humans by nature are social creatures, therefore the provision of public spaces for social activity is an integral part of urban design. The use of public space is also seen to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of people. The modern-day decline in urban public space usage is due to comfortable thermal environments being created indoors through the use of technology and advanced design principles. The primary focus of this study was to understand the effect of microclimatic conditions on the behaviour of people in outdoor urban public spaces, in order to identify design methods to create a more conducive environment. A plaza and waterfront in the city of Kandy were identified as urban public spaces for this study. Physical observations, activity mapping, photographic surveys, thermal sensation questionnaires, 3D modelling, and simulations of the thermal environment were the methods used for data collection. The cross-analysis of data led to a better understanding that in tropical climates shade is not the only solution. Air temperature and solar radiation greatly impact the use of urban public spaces and people adapt to environmental conditions by experience. Wind, shade, vegetation cover, and surrounding urban geometry also contribute to thermal perception. It was inferred that there was no one primary factor but rather the culmination of all factors in different ratios that causes the environmental temperature to morph and change, affecting the thermal comfort of a space. The results of this study are used to provide a design-based recommendation in order to achieve an optimum level of thermal comfort and provide design efficacy for urban public spaces.