The Impact of urban blue green space design on thermal comfort: with special reference to parks in Jaffna city centre

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of blue-green space design strategies in enhancing thermal comfort in Jaffna, a rapidly urbanizing city in the Warm-Dry climatic zone. It focuses on the Aariyakulam Lake Trail and Pannai coastal promenade, each with unique microclimatic conditions. The research addresses how current urban parks provide thermal comfort and evaluates the success of landscape strategies in mitigating heat stress. Using Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) for actual comfort assessments, validated by on-site meteorological data, and ENVI-met simulations for predicted comfort assessments through Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), the study examines thermal comfort variations across these parks. It highlights landscape features such as spatial layout, vegetation, shading, water elements, and surface materials in shaping thermal perceptions. By integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses of thermal sensations at four park locations, the study reveals the influence of microclimatic conditions on thermal comfort. It concludes that Pannai Park offers the most comfortable environment and provides design recommendations to improve thermal comfort through climate-responsive planning and well-designed blue-green spaces.