Beauty and the heat : exploring transit user thermal perception beyond the surface

Increased urban heat, a dynamic and multi-scalar process, leads to thermal discomfort and health risks for urban residents. Public transit is essential in cities, offering mobility and reducing congestion, especially benefiting those vulnerable to urban heat. However, as urban heating intensifies, cities must adopt effective strategies to design thermally comfortable transit stops. Chapter Two explores thermal perceptions among transit users in Denver, Colorado, a semi-arid city, focusing on 60 bus stops with varying land cover. Surveys gathered users’ thermal perceptions and aesthetic preferences while micrometeorological data were recorded. Results show that thermal perceptions are significantly influenced by aesthetic preferences, which can even moderate thermal comfort perceptions in high-heat conditions. Bus stops with more large stature vegetation were perceived as more aesthetically pleasing, demonstrating the importance of aesthetics in transit design. Chapter Three compares hyper-local surface temperature (TS) measured via Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) imaging with Landsat 8 satellite-derived temperatures. Findings indicate that Landsat 8 measures TS 10.7 degrees Celsius higher on average than the FLIR, while FLIR offers finer-resolution data more closely aligned with thermal comfort indices like Mean Radiant Temperature (TMRT) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), explaining up to 68% of the variation in thermal comfort indices. This study encourages using simplified hyper-local methods, such as FLIR, to inform heat-resilient transit design. By integrating user perceptions, micrometeorology, and thermal imaging, this research provides valuable insights for urban planners aiming to mitigate urban heat and enhance thermal comfort in semi-arid cities.