Urban Environmental Comfort: A System Dynamic Analysis

I am excited to announce our publication titled: "Environmental comfort in urban spaces: A systematic literature review and a system dynamics analysis," in Urban Climate Journal, 爱思唯尔 !

This article, stemming from my PhD thesis research, explores the complex concept of Environmental Comfort (EC) in urban settings through a combination of a systematic literature review and a system dynamics (SD) approach. As cities expand and climate challenges intensify, understanding EC becomes crucial for creating sustainable and livable urban spaces.

Our study highlights the intricate relationships between thermal comfort, urban planning, and human perceptions, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to designing resilient environments. By integrating SD modeling, we uncover key factors that shape outdoor comfort, including thermal conditions, spatial components, and social indicators. Although thermal comfort is often overlooked in conventional studies, we identify significant research gaps, particularly in the sensory dimensions of EC—such as air quality and soundscape—as well as the correlation between spatio-social variables and EC levels, which require further exploration to enhance urban well-being.

The insights from this research provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in fostering environments that balance sustainability with human-centered design. By recognizing EC as a dynamic and interconnected system, we can move towards more inclusive and adaptive urban strategies. I hope this work contributes to ongoing discussions on improving urban comfort and resilience.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors,?Prof. Myriam Lopes and?Dr. Helder Relvas , for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this journey. Additionally, I extend my thanks to the?CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and?Funda??o para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for funding this study and to the?GEMAC research group?in the Department of Environment and Planning (DAO UA) at the?Universidade de Aveiro?for their support.

You can find the full open-access article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212095525000562

Looking forward to engaging in discussions on this topic!

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#UrbanPlanning #EnvironmentalComfort #SDG11 #SystemDynamics #AirQuality #Noise #Soundscape #Sustainability #UrbanSpace #UrbanDesign

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