Does Multidimensional Urban Morphology Affect Thermal Sensation? Evidence from Shanghai

The inappropriate thermal conditions resulting from increasingly severe climate issues have led to numerous complications for urban residents, decreased urban settlement comfort, and increased average and peak energy demands in built environments. Existing studies have demonstrated the significant influence of urban morphology (UM) on the urban thermal environment (UTE); however, at the meso-scale and macro-scale, UTE is often simplified to land surface temperature (LST) and building surface temperatures. To investigate the impact of UM on UTE, we developed an evaluation framework consisting of thermal sensing feedback (TSF) and LST. We employed the seven-level TSF scale to evaluate TSF data obtained from the Internet, emphasizing individualized thermal perceptions of urban spaces and reorienting UTE research towards a human-centric perspective. Using a regression model, we examined the relationships between two-dimensional and three-dimensional UM variables and UTE at the meso-scale in the central urban area of Shanghai, China, during August and December 2024. The results indicated the following: (1) The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), building density (BD), floor area ratio (FAR), impervious surface index (ISI), building height (BH), average building volume (ABV), sky view fraction (SVF), and building shape (BSsh) effectively explained TSF. However, area weighted mean shape index (SHAPEAM), aggregation index (AI), edge density (ED), elevation, building spacing (BSsp), and spatial congestion degree (SCD) showed no significant correlation with TSF. (2) Significant variables, including NDVI, FAR, ISI, UM, BD, and BH, exhibited opposite effects on cold perception in winter compared to heat perception in summer, indicating a consistent influence on thermal perception across seasons. (3) In summer, the significant variables SVF, BSsh, and ISI showed opposite effects on TSF and LST, while in winter, FAR demonstrated contrasting impacts on TSF and LST. The results of this study advance understanding of the mechanisms through which UM influences UTE, providing valuable insights for the development of sustainable, thermally comfortable urban environments.