Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics
Urban public space comfort is essential for improving quality of life, particularly as climate change affects outdoor thermal environments. This study utilizes ENVI-met, a 3D microclimate simulation tool, to assess thermal comfort concerning demographic factors such as age and gender. The findings i...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Urban Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/8/4/193 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850102775082385408 |
|---|---|
| author | Tousi Evgenia Athina Mela Areti Tseliou |
| author_facet | Tousi Evgenia Athina Mela Areti Tseliou |
| author_sort | Tousi Evgenia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban public space comfort is essential for improving quality of life, particularly as climate change affects outdoor thermal environments. This study utilizes ENVI-met, a 3D microclimate simulation tool, to assess thermal comfort concerning demographic factors such as age and gender. The findings indicate significant disparities in thermal stress vulnerability among demographic groups. On the hottest day of July 2023, at 10 a.m., children’s PET values were approximately 2 °C higher than those of other groups. By 3 p.m., females experienced slightly higher upper-range thermal stress than males. Elderly individuals aged 80 exhibited a broad range of PET values, from 38.14 °C to 62.39 °C, with prevailing values above 56.9 °C, indicating greater vulnerability to extreme heat. Children aged 8 showed PET values ranging from 40.20 °C to 59.34 °C, with prevailing estimates between 54.2 °C and 55.7 °C. Minimum PET values for children were significantly higher than those for adults, suggesting a greater baseline level of thermal stress. Despite cooling effects in the evening, children remained exposed to more pronounced stress than elderly individuals, males, and females. The UTCI values recorded indicate a period of extreme heat stress for all demographic groups assessed. While individuals aged 35 may encounter considerable discomfort, the severity of the impact is notably more pronounced for both older adults and children. This study underscores the need for tailored management strategies and advocates for expanding ENVI-met’s capabilities to enhance urban resilience and well-being amid rising temperatures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8c20e38ff72e46fd85e5683ca8af7575 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-8c20e38ff72e46fd85e5683ca8af75752025-08-20T02:39:41ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512024-10-018419310.3390/urbansci8040193Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different DemographicsTousi Evgenia0Athina Mela1Areti Tseliou2Department of Interior Architecture, University of West Attica, 12241 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Urban Planning and Architectural Design, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Athens, GreeceSchool of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, GreeceUrban public space comfort is essential for improving quality of life, particularly as climate change affects outdoor thermal environments. This study utilizes ENVI-met, a 3D microclimate simulation tool, to assess thermal comfort concerning demographic factors such as age and gender. The findings indicate significant disparities in thermal stress vulnerability among demographic groups. On the hottest day of July 2023, at 10 a.m., children’s PET values were approximately 2 °C higher than those of other groups. By 3 p.m., females experienced slightly higher upper-range thermal stress than males. Elderly individuals aged 80 exhibited a broad range of PET values, from 38.14 °C to 62.39 °C, with prevailing values above 56.9 °C, indicating greater vulnerability to extreme heat. Children aged 8 showed PET values ranging from 40.20 °C to 59.34 °C, with prevailing estimates between 54.2 °C and 55.7 °C. Minimum PET values for children were significantly higher than those for adults, suggesting a greater baseline level of thermal stress. Despite cooling effects in the evening, children remained exposed to more pronounced stress than elderly individuals, males, and females. The UTCI values recorded indicate a period of extreme heat stress for all demographic groups assessed. While individuals aged 35 may encounter considerable discomfort, the severity of the impact is notably more pronounced for both older adults and children. This study underscores the need for tailored management strategies and advocates for expanding ENVI-met’s capabilities to enhance urban resilience and well-being amid rising temperatures.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/8/4/193thermal stressheatwavesMediterraneanPETUTCIENVI-met |
| spellingShingle | Tousi Evgenia Athina Mela Areti Tseliou Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics Urban Science thermal stress heatwaves Mediterranean PET UTCI ENVI-met |
| title | Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics |
| title_full | Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics |
| title_short | Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics |
| title_sort | thermal stress in outdoor spaces during mediterranean heatwaves a pet and utci analysis of different demographics |
| topic | thermal stress heatwaves Mediterranean PET UTCI ENVI-met |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/8/4/193 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tousievgenia thermalstressinoutdoorspacesduringmediterraneanheatwavesapetandutcianalysisofdifferentdemographics AT athinamela thermalstressinoutdoorspacesduringmediterraneanheatwavesapetandutcianalysisofdifferentdemographics AT aretitseliou thermalstressinoutdoorspacesduringmediterraneanheatwavesapetandutcianalysisofdifferentdemographics |