Potential Contribution of Urban Developments to Outdoor Thermal Comfort Conditions: The Influence of Urban Geometry and Form in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Urban development projects have an immense impact on local microclimates which in turn affect the thermal comfort and space quality within a city. Thermally comfort outdoor spaces will encourage walkability in cities and improve public health and air quality. To design better urban environments it is necessary to measure and analyze outdoor thermal comfort in various climatic conditions, not only in warm but also in temperate and cold climates. Quantitative information helps us to adopt effective urban design solutions for existing and future urban environments. The overall objective of this research is to explore the variation of outdoor thermal comfort conditions affected by urban features. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to discuss and assess the impact of urban geometry and form on microclimates of open spaces. Urban geometry and form will be investigated using field measurements and simulations in a developing urban environment. The measurements and simulations of climatic conditions will be executed in summer during the months of June and July, representing the hottest time of the year in downtown area of Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (humid continental, Dfb in Köppen climate classification).