Abstract
Outdoor thermal comfort holds a pivotal role in the functionality of urban open spaces with these areas contributing significantly to thermal comfort and thereby elevating the overall quality of city life. The influence of thermal comforts on the built environment impacts outdoor activities and may contribute to the decline of environmental quality, posing a complex challenge. Consequently, there is a growing emphasis on outdoor thermal comfort studies, recognizing it as a multifaceted issue shaped by various factors. These factors encompass both direct and indirect influences, such as physical, physiological, and psychological factors, behavioural, personal, social, and cultural factors, as well as thermal history, site characteristics, and expectations. The assessment of outdoor thermal comfort is determined not only by the “physical state” but also by the “state of mind”. It involves a static and objective evaluation, considering physical and physiological characteristics that should be measured. This review aims to identify effective parameters and approaches for assessing outdoor thermal comfort studies in urban open spaces. It serves as a valuable reference for researchers, architects, and planners, enhancing their understanding of outdoor thermal comfort and aiding in the creation of thermally comfortable urban open spaces.
Keywords: Outdoor Thermal Comfort, Physiological Factors, Psychological Factors, Urban Built Environment.