Publications (FIS)

Visitor motivations and design feature use for thermal comfort on hot days in Bochum City Park, Germany

authored by: Carl Cyrus Anderson, Julia Sophie Uhr, Stefan Schmidt
Abstract: The rising incidence of extreme heat in urban areas poses challenges to urban living, affecting thermal comfort and public health. Public green spaces (PGS), such as parks, play a crucial role in mitigating heat and acting as 'cooling oases' that enhance visitors' thermal comfort and offer various other ecosystem services. Despite their importance, the specific role of thermal comfort in motivating individuals to visit PGS remains unclear. This study aims to explore the connection between thermal comfort and PGS visits on hot days, with a focus on visitor motivations and the park features that promote comfort. We conducted systematic observations involving quantitative counts of PGS visitors and rapid questionnaires on summer days of varying temperature ranges in Bochum City Park, Germany. Results indicated that the motivation to achieve thermal comfort by visiting the park significantly increased from ‘slightly warm’ to ‘warm’ days, especially among older visitors, and was independent of other motivations for visiting. Furthermore, results showed that the perceived temperature has a limited impact on the use of PGS features, with sun exposure emerging as a decisive factor. The findings can inform the planning and design of PGS, with the aim of creating desirable and thermally comfortable environments as cooling oases for urban residents.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Type: Article
Journal: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
Volume: 102
ISSN: 1618-8667
Publication date: 12.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Forestry, Ecology, Soil Science
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128564 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{16a3e5e123164bb8b7033dda6f101c4b,
title = "Visitor motivations and design feature use for thermal comfort on hot days in Bochum City Park, Germany",
abstract = "The rising incidence of extreme heat in urban areas poses challenges to urban living, affecting thermal comfort and public health. Public green spaces (PGS), such as parks, play a crucial role in mitigating heat and acting as 'cooling oases' that enhance visitors' thermal comfort and offer various other ecosystem services. Despite their importance, the specific role of thermal comfort in motivating individuals to visit PGS remains unclear. This study aims to explore the connection between thermal comfort and PGS visits on hot days, with a focus on visitor motivations and the park features that promote comfort. We conducted systematic observations involving quantitative counts of PGS visitors and rapid questionnaires on summer days of varying temperature ranges in Bochum City Park, Germany. Results indicated that the motivation to achieve thermal comfort by visiting the park significantly increased from {\textquoteleft}slightly warm{\textquoteright} to {\textquoteleft}warm{\textquoteright} days, especially among older visitors, and was independent of other motivations for visiting. Furthermore, results showed that the perceived temperature has a limited impact on the use of PGS features, with sun exposure emerging as a decisive factor. The findings can inform the planning and design of PGS, with the aim of creating desirable and thermally comfortable environments as cooling oases for urban residents.",
keywords = "Climate adaption, Ecosystem services, Public green spaces, Thermal comfort",
author = "Anderson, {Carl Cyrus} and Uhr, {Julia Sophie} and Stefan Schmidt",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Authors",
year = "2024",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128564",
language = "English",
volume = "102",
journal = "Urban Forestry and Urban Greening",
issn = "1618-8667",
publisher = "Urban und Fischer Verlag GmbH und Co. KG",
}