Thermal Comfort in Urban Open Spaces for Hong Kong

Abstract The thermal conditions encountered in outdoor urban spaces are a major determinant of the patterns of usage of the spaces. For better urban planning and design, the issue of outdoor comfort should be highlighted. This paper summarizes an extensive literature review on outdoor comfort studies. It seeks to understand the effects of airflow on pedestrian comfort in three categories: wind force, wind chill, and thermal comfort. The paper then develops guidelines for urban Hong Kong based on the findings. A comfort outdoor temperature chart for Hong Kong was developed based on the results. Urban wind speeds ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 m/s are recommended for pedestrian comfort in shade on typical clear sunny days in summer Hong Kong.

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