Walkability and thermal comfort: an integrated evaluation system. Case study: the Mediterranean outdoor environments (Annaba).
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2022-01-05
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Abstract
In recent years, walkability is increasingly involved in many sustainable strategies, considering
its many health and environmental benefits. Thermal comfort has also been progressively promoted as a
critical measure for pedestrian comfort and well-being. This thesis explores how to combine walkability
and thermal comfort with a quantitative approach, by considering walkability and thermal comfort
measurement tools. Two urban components are of interest in this research; the neighbourhood level and
the street scale. We propose the comfort walkability index (CWI) at the neighbourhood micro-scale, based
on two questionnaires; 330 respondents answered the first questionnaire to evaluate each indicator's
coefficient (Cis). The second questionnaire was based on 282 respondents using a simple random
sampling technique to assess the selected factors' scores (Sis). While the physiological Equivalent
temperature (PET) is calculated using RayMan software. The Street Walkability and Thermal Comfort
index (SWTCI) focuses on comfort facilities and PET at the street scale. The method requires combining a
questionnaire survey (Cis), observation (Sis), and in situ measurements (air temperature, wind velocity,
and relative humidity). SWTCI associated two software; Envi-met was used to calibrate microclimatic
data (air temperature, wind velocity, relative humidity and mean radiant temperature); in comparison,
RayMan was used to calculate PET. We tested the CWI and SWTCI tools in Annaba, Algeria,
characterized by the Mediterranean climate (Csa), during summer 2017. The results showed a noticeable
difference in both indices depending on PET values. The two indices achieved their highest score when
the thermal perception is neutral (20<PET<26). Despite the divergence in PET values, the highest CWI
and SWTCI scores were 40.95% and 32.90%, respectively, reflecting two categories: a rarely acceptable
comfort quality and uncomfortable streets with minimal pedestrian comfort facilities. This thesis
highlights the importance of assessing pedestrian comfort facilities at the neighbourhood and street scales,
heeding the importance of thermal comfort in promoting a satisfying walking experience.