A modeling study of cool surfaces and outdoor workers productivity at San Francisco International Airport

Heat exposure in outdoor work environments poses risks to worker health and productivity. Engineering solutions like cool surfaces that increase surface albedo and reduce temperatures may help mitigate these impacts. We conducted detailed micrometeorological modeling to analyze surface characteristics and heat exposure for outdoor workers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) under current conditions and three hypothetical albedo-increase scenarios. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was used to estimate potential productivity loss based on established relationships between heat stress and loss in physical work capacity. For the month of August 2020, we quantified possible gained hours of productivity per worker per month under each hypothetical albedo-increase scenario. Across the entire area of SFO, the average campus albedo was 0.20 (range: 0.08-0.85). Adopting low, moderate, and high albedo modifications for SFO would reduce peak midday WBGT by 0.89, 1.25, and 1.59 °C, respectively. The largest temperature reductions occurred during the morning shift (7 AM-3 PM). In one shift, we found a potential of 5.20, 7.16, and 8.95 h gained per worker over the entire month in the low, moderate, and high albedo modification scenarios, respectively.