Investigating the Effect of Neighborhood Morphology on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Public Spaces of Six Canadian Cities

This study investigated the effects of local microclimate and urban morphologies with respect to outdoor thermal comfort. Six Canadian cities in different climatic zones, geographical locations, and with various physical characteristics were chosen for this study: Whitehorse, Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax, and St. Johns. Digital simulations were performed to determine the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at three separate times of the day on a selected representative extreme hot and chilly day of the summer and winter week, respectively. The results show how the built environment, building shapes, layouts, and their heights, orientation significantly affect the local microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort of a place. The outcome of this research gives perspective for enhanced outdoor thermal comfort for publicopen spaces. This delivers ideas to planners and designers for creating places with improved thermal environments, where pedestrians can be more comfortable.