Arch-6105

Std no : 0412012010

Paper Review
1. Modification of Urban Temperature in Hot-Humid Climate through Landscape Design
Approach: A review
Sharifah Khalizah Syed Othman Thani*, Nik Hanita Nik Mohamad, Sabrina Idilfitri
2. The Climatology Effects on Outdoor Recreation Perception and Activity in Shah Alam
Rabiatul Adawiyah Nasira*, Ahmad Nazrin Aris Anuara, Fairus Md Darusb, Norajlin Jainia& Siti
Aekbal Salleha
3. Wind comfort in a public urban spaceCase study within Dublin Docklands
Agota Szucsn

The above all papers focus on the outdoor thermal comfort in different situations. The main objective of
these papers is to find out the comfort level and then understand the possible steps that are to be taken to
create microclimate in an urban area. The dependency of human outdoor activity in different environmental
condition is studied well to identify the relationship in between.
The first paper focuses on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) and discusses the possible measures that can be
taken into account as design consideration of urban landscape in hot humid climate. According to this paper
there are four factors that affect the outdoor thermal comfort 1. Surface and air temperature, 2.Relative
humidity, 3. Solar radiation and 4. Wind velocity. To achieve the thermal comfort, it will be necessary to
minimize the heat gain by covering the urban space through solar shading. Another measure that is to taken
is modification of urban ventilation by promoting wind velocity and to directing it to the necessary area. To
achieve the thermal comfort the design decisions should be taken in all levels of designing regarding
Regional scale, Master plan and Micro-scale design. The understanding of vegetation and planting
design is necessary because urban greenery has many positive impacts in moderating urban climate. The
water elements play a significant role in modification of urban climate. The study indicates that the mean
temperature of water bodies was 29.49oC, which is lower by temperature ranging of 0.58oC -3.37oC than
the green land (30.07oC) and built-up area (32.86oC). The design strategy for water bodies in hot humid
climate is to provide as many as wet surfaces as evaporation surface for cooling effect to the nearby
surroundings. The energy efficient landscape design approach is mentioned to be a possible means of
outdoor thermal comfort. It can be done by vertical landscaping and green roof or vegetated roof.
The second paper focuses on the involvement in outdoor recreation depending on climatic condition. To do
so, a structured interview and a microclimate assessment are done in a selected study area. The
microclimate assessment is done by setting up a portable weather station. The selected parameters of
climatic data are 1. Temperature 2. Relative humidity and 3. Wind velocity. The activities and frequency
of those activities of different visitors of the study area is recorded. This study has shown that the people
perceived weather as insignificant for the involvement in the outdoor activity, while, the technical data shows
contradictory. This study also shows that there are several activities are highly dependent on weather
condition.

The third paper focuses on the present study whether climatic characteristics in Dublin facilitate exercising
long-term outdoor activities during summer, and investigates the extent to which urban planning and the
resulting urban morphology of the built environment influences microclimates created, from the viewpoint of
wind environment. Microclimates at Grand Canal Square have been simulated by ENVI-met. Wind velocity
has been expressed in relation to that of the ''background'' climate in order to verify if the site has a wind
protecting character or to the contrary, it enhances airflow. The wind speed of the study area has been
recorded to compare with the thermal comfort level of human body. The urban planning context is reviewed
to understand the space quality. The study says that the effects of wind on people can be divided into two
categories: mechanical (direct effect of the wind force described by the Beaufort scale) and thermal
(indirect effect on the thermal perception in combination with other climatic parameters). The study shows
that wind has a great effect on human thermal comfort through its influence on both latent and sensible heat
exchange. Its optimization is a key point in creating pleasant climatic ambiance in open urban spaces,
especially in a naturally well vented geographical location.
All the above study shows the significant relationship between thermal comfort in human outdoor activities
and environmental conditions of different urban spaces.