Pedestrians in Future Cities

Pedestrians will play an important role in the cities of the future as an alternative mode of transport. Pedestrian-friendly cities are characterised by wide pavements with safe design features such as low lighting or wide sidewalks, and accessible public transport. Thermal indices such as UTCI or PET for standing people are common tools. They assess outdoor thermal comfort by measuring the thermal comfort of a standing person exposed to a specific microclimate. They take into account physical parameters such as air temperature and relative humidity, radiation levels and air movement, or the degree of insulation of clothing. However, these indices cannot be used to assess the comfort of people moving in different microclimates.

This is because the thermal environment of a moving person is very different from that of a standing person. A walking person is likely to be exposed to changing air velocities and temperature gradients or radiation equilibrium points that are not easily captured by these indices. In addition, a walking person is subject to physical exertion, which further affects their thermal comfort, whereas a standing person is not. Our brand new feature, the Dynamic Pedestrian Thermal Comfort Model, allows the assessment of the thermal comfort of pedestrians in urban environments.

BIO-met: Dynamic thermal comfort model for pedestrians

This feature in BIO-met offers a unique opportunity to understand and analyse human thermal comfort like never before. When analysing the dynamic thermal comfort of pedestrians, additional parameters such as sudden changes in skin temperature or the body’s energy balance can be more decisive for the perception of comfort than long-term static conditions. The new dynamic thermal comfort model can be used to design individualised virtual walks through the simulated ENVI-met world, including visits to indoor spaces or sitting outdoors. The response of the human body and the resulting thermal comfort can be interactively observed and analysed in LEONARDO maps or Python scripts. At the touch of a button, you can observe the evolution of thermal comfort at an individual level in the software interface, or analyse movement paths with LEONARDO. Either way, it is a completely new way of looking at thermal comfort in cities – from a pedestrian’s point of view.

Importance in times of climate change

In times of climate adaptation, pedestrian comfort is particularly important in areas where temperatures are rising due to climate change, as people are more likely to walk and be active when the environment is comfortable, and pedestrian comfort can be influenced by many environmental elements, such as wind chill, humidity and other atmospheric elements, which can be monitored and optimised using the dynamic thermal pedestrian comfort model. In this way, cities can carefully plan pedestrian routes and create thermal comfort plans to ensure that pedestrians have a pleasant experience, helping to create more sustainable cities while encouraging people to be active and enjoy their public space.

In terms of climate change, it is also important to simulate the reactions of people moving around cities to better understand how these people will interact and react to a changing environment.Simulations are essential for developing strategies and policies that will help cities deal with the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, increased flooding and heat waves. Simulations can also be used to explore possible adaptation strategies, such as retrofitting existing buildings or designing public green spaces. By understanding how people respond to climate change, cities will be better prepared to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Key role for climate adaptation and urban planning

ENVI-met software plays a key role in climate adaptation by providing accurate microclimate modelling at the local level. The software can accurately predict temperatures, wind speeds and air currents in urban areas, while also taking into account how these conditions can be modified by buildings, vegetation and other features. This information is invaluable to urban planners, allowing them to design cities and buildings that are better adapted to the local climate while meeting sustainability goals. In addition, ENVI-met provides detailed information that can be used to assess the impact of climate change on local ecosystems and develop adaptation strategies.

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