The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer

This study explores the effects of trees on the acoustic and thermal environment in addition to people’s responses to trees in different contexts. Through field measurements conducted during the summer of 2023 at the campus of the Southwest University of Science and Technology in Mianyang, residents...

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Main Authors: Wen Lu, Yanyi Chen, Tianru Zhou, Jian Zhang, Aoyan Xiao, Feng Zhu, Hui Yin, Ting Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Acoustics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/6/4/50
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author Wen Lu
Yanyi Chen
Tianru Zhou
Jian Zhang
Aoyan Xiao
Feng Zhu
Hui Yin
Ting Liu
author_facet Wen Lu
Yanyi Chen
Tianru Zhou
Jian Zhang
Aoyan Xiao
Feng Zhu
Hui Yin
Ting Liu
author_sort Wen Lu
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the effects of trees on the acoustic and thermal environment in addition to people’s responses to trees in different contexts. Through field measurements conducted during the summer of 2023 at the campus of the Southwest University of Science and Technology in Mianyang, residents’ neutral points were locally found to be 52.2 dBA (acoustic) and 23.8 °C (thermal). Further, at their maximum, the trees were able to reduce heat stress by 4 °C (indicated by the physiologically equivalent temperature—PET) and the noise level by 10 dBA (indicated by the A-weighted sound pressure—LAeq); this was achieved by trees with a crown diameter of 20 m. Subjective acoustic and thermal responses varied depending on the context. Acoustically, their neutral LAeq values toward the sounds of traffic, teaching, sports, and daily life were 46.9, 52.5, 51.0, and 52.7 dBA, respectively. Thermally, pedestrians’ neutral PET values were 24.2, 26.1, 22.3, and 25.1 °C, respectively, under the same conditions. These phenomena might be a consequence of the effects of sound frequencies. Future urban forestry research should focus on planting for environmental quality improvement.
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issn 2624-599X
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publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Acoustics
spelling doaj-art-e4ac83fe1e1546afb5a873505a9cbb702025-08-20T02:53:39ZengMDPI AGAcoustics2624-599X2024-10-016488791010.3390/acoustics6040050The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the SummerWen Lu0Yanyi Chen1Tianru Zhou2Jian Zhang3Aoyan Xiao4Feng Zhu5Hui Yin6Ting Liu7School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaChina Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaSchool of Literature and Arts, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaThis study explores the effects of trees on the acoustic and thermal environment in addition to people’s responses to trees in different contexts. Through field measurements conducted during the summer of 2023 at the campus of the Southwest University of Science and Technology in Mianyang, residents’ neutral points were locally found to be 52.2 dBA (acoustic) and 23.8 °C (thermal). Further, at their maximum, the trees were able to reduce heat stress by 4 °C (indicated by the physiologically equivalent temperature—PET) and the noise level by 10 dBA (indicated by the A-weighted sound pressure—LAeq); this was achieved by trees with a crown diameter of 20 m. Subjective acoustic and thermal responses varied depending on the context. Acoustically, their neutral LAeq values toward the sounds of traffic, teaching, sports, and daily life were 46.9, 52.5, 51.0, and 52.7 dBA, respectively. Thermally, pedestrians’ neutral PET values were 24.2, 26.1, 22.3, and 25.1 °C, respectively, under the same conditions. These phenomena might be a consequence of the effects of sound frequencies. Future urban forestry research should focus on planting for environmental quality improvement.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/6/4/50outdoor thermal comfortthermalacoustic sensationcomfort voteneutral temperatureLAeq
spellingShingle Wen Lu
Yanyi Chen
Tianru Zhou
Jian Zhang
Aoyan Xiao
Feng Zhu
Hui Yin
Ting Liu
The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer
Acoustics
outdoor thermal comfort
thermal
acoustic sensation
comfort vote
neutral temperature
LAeq
title The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer
title_full The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer
title_fullStr The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer
title_full_unstemmed The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer
title_short The Adjusting Effects of Trees on Cfa-Climate Campus Acoustic Environments and Thermal Comforts in the Summer
title_sort adjusting effects of trees on cfa climate campus acoustic environments and thermal comforts in the summer
topic outdoor thermal comfort
thermal
acoustic sensation
comfort vote
neutral temperature
LAeq
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/6/4/50
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