Thermal acceptability for urban parks in tropics: Evaluating the effects of environmental attributes on user perceived controls

Abstract

Though wider diversities of environmental attributes are intrinsic in water fringed urban parks, these parks are less represented in the previous studies. Thus the study aims to explore the impact of environmental attributes of settings on user perceived controls for enhancing daytime thermal acceptability of water fringed urban parks in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The study investigated seven diversified settings which demonstrate varying shading levels and environmental attributes with visual integration of water surfaces. Although predicted thermal perception indices signify uncomfortable microclimates majority of the visitors are accepting high PET range of 28-40°C. Enhanced thermal acceptability of these parks is related to visitor's perceived control on choice of place. The tolerance of extremely hot microclimates is encouraged through more natural environmental attributes of the settings which contribute to visitor's expectation of view for high degree of perceived control. Thus microclimate planning which link visitor's expectation through natural environmental attributes of urban parks is prime importance for usability and vivacity of outdoor settings in tropical climates.