Analysis of the thermal sensation in cold period outdoor spaces, in the dry climate of the metropolitan area of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Abstract

Weather variables affect the permanence of a user at an outdoor public space, the diverse aspects of these variables can affect the user’s thermal sensation. Thus, by knowing the outdoor comfort temperatures or neutrality temperatures values, users can extend their stay in the areas that are exposed to outdoor weather conditions, a reason why we intend to find the values for those neutral temperatures on the outdoor spaces at the Valle de las Palmas area, in Tijuana, Baja California, because by knowing these values, there can be improved outdoor spaces designed in accordance to the city’s climate variables. In order to find these temperature values, a case study was selected, in which an instrument or survey was applied, designed to inquire what the perceived thermal sensation of the user at the open space is, while thermal monitoring was carried out at the same time with the use of automated measurement tools and, once the data was gathered, diverse variables were collected based on the ISO 7730-2005 standard, while Microsoft Excel software was used to analyze the field data and, as a result, the appropriate neutrality temperature was obtained to be able to design future outdoor spaces or redesign and improve the existing ones.