A comparative study of urban heat stress assessment methods

Abstract

The Netherlands is facing a growing challenge of urban heat stress due to climate change and urbanization. This challenge calls for an understanding where heat stress occurs and to what extent. Therefore, in the last decade, objective and subjective methods were developed to assess heat stress. Given that urban designers use these methods to plan cities, it is essential to understand the type of information each method provides in order to make informed decisions about its application. Therefore, three different methods have been compared in this research, namely (i) the subjective method thermal walk, (ii) objective field measurements with a ‘heat stress tracker’, and (iii) an objective computer model that maps heat stress. The data was gathered on June 9, 2023, a summer day in the city of Enschede, the Netherlands. The results of the research show that the three methods exhibit similar patterns and correlate significantly. However, the thermal walk yields substantially lower values compared to the tracker and the model. The thermal walk also showed large variations in perceived heat stress among the participants. The conclusion can be drawn that a conversion from objective metrics by the model or tracker to subjective heat stress perception is questionable, since heat stress perception can differ greatly between individuals. Therefore, it is essential to consider the specific application purpose of each method. The thermal walk is particularly effective for enhancing the attractiveness of a city, whereas the model excels in identifying areas of heat vulnerability. Overall, an integrative approach that considers both objective and subjective methods is key to develop effective solutions for urban heat challenges.

Date of Award	6 Nov 2024
Original language	English
Supervisor	J de Kraker (Examiner), Jetse Stoorvogel (Co-assessor) & Bram Entrop (External assessor)