Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an
Solar exposure and shading critically influence outdoor thermal comfort in residential areas, yet quantitative links between spatial morphology and microclimate remain insufficiently explored in cold-region cities. This study proposes a novel morphological indicator, the Insolation Shadow Ratio (ISR...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Jie Song Yu Liu David Hou Chi Chow Bo Liu Seigen Cho |
| author_facet | Jie Song Yu Liu David Hou Chi Chow Bo Liu Seigen Cho |
| author_sort | Jie Song |
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| description | Solar exposure and shading critically influence outdoor thermal comfort in residential areas, yet quantitative links between spatial morphology and microclimate remain insufficiently explored in cold-region cities. This study proposes a novel morphological indicator, the Insolation Shadow Ratio (ISR), to quantify sunlight–shade dynamics and investigates its correlation with outdoor thermal comfort (UTCI) in Xi’an, China. Combining field observations, microclimate simulations, and statistical analysis, we quantified ISR and UTCI across three representative outdoor spaces in a residential area. Photographic analysis and spatial parameterization were employed to calculate hourly ISR values. Significant correlations were observed between ISR and UTCI values. The measured data showed the strongest correlation at summer solstice at site C (Spearman’s r = 0.883, <i>p</i> < 0.01). GAM analysis of seasonal peak correlation data revealed that an optimal UTCI comfort range of 9 °C to 26 °C, corresponding to ISR thresholds of 0.0202–0.8384, achieved the highest autumn correlation at site C (r = 0.686, <i>p</i> < 0.01), while effectively balancing shade cooling effects and solar accessibility. The ISR framework provides a quantifiable tool for designers to optimize outdoor thermal environments and, when enhanced by parametric modeling tools, enables them to proactively optimize thermal performance during early-stage residential planning, offering a data-driven pathway for climate-resilient outdoor space design. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3d01e44cdce94aafb3f1ce8615e617952025-08-20T02:24:42ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-06-011512199510.3390/buildings15121995Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’anJie Song0Yu Liu1David Hou Chi Chow2Bo Liu3Seigen Cho4School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaSustainable Building and Environmental Research Institute, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, ChinaSchool of Architecture, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UKSchool of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, ChinaInstitute of Urban Innovation, Yokohama National University, Yokohama 240-8501, JapanSolar exposure and shading critically influence outdoor thermal comfort in residential areas, yet quantitative links between spatial morphology and microclimate remain insufficiently explored in cold-region cities. This study proposes a novel morphological indicator, the Insolation Shadow Ratio (ISR), to quantify sunlight–shade dynamics and investigates its correlation with outdoor thermal comfort (UTCI) in Xi’an, China. Combining field observations, microclimate simulations, and statistical analysis, we quantified ISR and UTCI across three representative outdoor spaces in a residential area. Photographic analysis and spatial parameterization were employed to calculate hourly ISR values. Significant correlations were observed between ISR and UTCI values. The measured data showed the strongest correlation at summer solstice at site C (Spearman’s r = 0.883, <i>p</i> < 0.01). GAM analysis of seasonal peak correlation data revealed that an optimal UTCI comfort range of 9 °C to 26 °C, corresponding to ISR thresholds of 0.0202–0.8384, achieved the highest autumn correlation at site C (r = 0.686, <i>p</i> < 0.01), while effectively balancing shade cooling effects and solar accessibility. The ISR framework provides a quantifiable tool for designers to optimize outdoor thermal environments and, when enhanced by parametric modeling tools, enables them to proactively optimize thermal performance during early-stage residential planning, offering a data-driven pathway for climate-resilient outdoor space design.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/12/1995Insolation Shadow Ratiothermal comfortUTCIresidential areaoutdoor space |
| spellingShingle | Jie Song Yu Liu David Hou Chi Chow Bo Liu Seigen Cho Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an Buildings Insolation Shadow Ratio thermal comfort UTCI residential area outdoor space |
| title | Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an |
| title_full | Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an |
| title_fullStr | Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an |
| title_full_unstemmed | Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an |
| title_short | Correlation Between the Insolation Shadow Ratio and Thermal Comfort of Urban Outdoor Spaces in Residential Areas in Xi’an |
| title_sort | correlation between the insolation shadow ratio and thermal comfort of urban outdoor spaces in residential areas in xi an |
| topic | Insolation Shadow Ratio thermal comfort UTCI residential area outdoor space |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/12/1995 |
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