Behaviour of People in Open Spaces in Dependence of Thermal Comfort Conditions

Abstract

Urban planners and architects need detailed information about the thermal conditions of open spaces for their design. The actual use of open spaces is depending on the possibilities for adequate activities within the city structure and strongly supported by the thermal conditions. Investigations were carried out at two open spaces in Kassel /Germany with measurements observations and a calculation of thermal conditions in order to create a thermal comfort map and compare that with the behaviour of people. Fundamental knowledge for thermal sensations came out of a European investigation project, which was carried out in 6 countries. As thermal index the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) was used. For the thermal comfort analysis with measurements a simplified methodology was developed for the thermal comfort conditions and the presentation in urban climate maps. In a well defined city fabric measurements were carried out to compare different sensors and transferred to the mean radiation temperature. To get the results a simplified methodology was developed for urban climate mapping and measurements. In a well defined city fabric measurements were carried out to compare different sensors, which can be used easily.