Microclimate and Downtown Open Space Activity

Abstract

Microclimatic conditions in business district open spaces tend to be more extreme than prevailing weather conditions. Although the buildings are chiefly responsible for this inclemency, their shapes and arrangement could also potentially be used to moderate or enhance prevailing conditions. To provide better guidance in design, we need to know how humans respond to microclimatic conditions. In particular, we need to know first how sunlight, temperature, humidity, and wind combine in sensations of outdoor human comfort, and second, how important microclimatic factors are in behavior. This article reports on a study of revealed preferences for certain local climatic conditions, measured in terms of presence levels and activities in seven closely spaced corporate plazas and public squares in a built-up, downtown area. The observations were conducted over a 5-month period. The measured microclimatic conditions accounted for most of the variance in activity levels and types. Temperature was the single most important variable. Although great variation in level of use among spaces cannot be explained solely in terms of microclimatic differences, use within spaces varies chiefly as a function of microclimate.

Outdoor human comfort in an urban climate

“…Correlations for these data are discussed in this section. The statistical signiÿcance of the correlations has been provided elsewhere [8]. Fig.…”

Does Wind Discourage Sustainable Transportation Mode Choice? Findings from San Francisco, California, USA

“…Some measured the mechanical effect of wind on pedestrians [12][13][14][15] and proposed sets of wind speed criteria for pedestrian comfort and safety [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Others have empirically studied the effect of wind on pedestrian comfort and attendance in outdoor spaces [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. What remains relatively little studied is the effect of wind on the usage of various transportation modes, especially alternative modes related to urban sustainability.…”

“…Understanding the effect of wind on sustainable transportation mode choice in San Francisco will benefit the planners and policy makers of the city, as well as those in other cities who seek similar goals. outdoor spaces [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. What remains relatively little studied is the effect of wind on the usage of various transportation modes, especially alternative modes related to urban sustainability.…”

Influences of culture and environmental attitude on thermal, emotional and perceptual evaluations of a public square

“…Recent literature on the evaluation of thermal comfort in relation to outdoor activity in different public spaces such as plazas and squares (Forwood et al 2001;Nikolopoulou et al 2001;Zacharias et al 2001;Thorsson 2003; S. Thorsson et al MS submitted), streets (Gehl 1968(Gehl , 1996Nasar and Yurdakul 1990;Li 1994;Nagara et al 1996;Nikolopoulou et al 2001) and parks (Forwood et al 2001;Nikolopoulou et al 2001;Thorsson 2003;Thorsson et al 2004;S. Thorsson et al MS submitted) shows that perception of the thermal environment strongly influences usage patterns.…”