Urban Formative Indicators Affecting Outdoor Thermal Comfort on Campus

Thermal comfort in university outdoor spaces is a fundamental requirement for creating a sustainable environment that supports student activities and events, and it is linked to the physical characteristics of the campus. The research problem emerged from a knowledge gap regarding the impact of urban formation on achieving thermal comfort in these spaces. The research assumes that specific urban formation indicators effectively influence users' perceptions of thermal comfort. It aims to analyze the impact of these indicators on improving thermal comfort within the university environment, with a focus on identifying the most effective in achieving thermal balance. A comparative analytical methodology was adopted that included diverse university environments from international studies, selected based on their diverse climates, formation patterns, and geographical distribution. This aimed to evaluate the performance of formation indicators and extract the most important factors influencing thermal comfort. The results showed that sky view factor, building coverage ratios, and vegetation cover are among the most influential formation indicators. Other indicators also emerged, such as the ratio of open spaces, building and wall heights, surface reflectivity, height-to-street width ratio, and ground coverage, which collectively contribute to reducing air and surface temperatures. The study recommended increasing vegetation cover and enhancing urban elements that are effective in reducing temperatures, while also ensuring a dynamic thermal balance between humans and the built environment to support a comfortable and sustainable university environment.