Evaluating Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Hot Humid Climate : Case Study od Effat University Campus

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with investigating the influence of shading on the outdoor thermal comfort in the hot humid city of Jeddah. Shading is considered one of the mitigation techniques that can deal with the negative thermal environment. It is a solution to a problem that continues to grow. The problem began when the cities of Saudi Arabia including the city of Jeddah transformed from organic and pedestrian oriented cities to grid and car-oriented cities. This change negatively altered the thermal environment of the open spaces and influenced their usage significantly. This issue coupled with the continuous rise in temperature and the heat island effect insinuate the desperate need for climatic design interventions where shading is considered one of the most effective methods. Therefore, this research focused on investigating the influence of shading in enhancing the thermal environment and its level of effectivity. Different studies were undertaken to achieve the aim of this study including a theoretical study and a field study. The results proved the extreme significance of shading in this region as they make the open space functional as opposed to areas exposed to the sun. Furthermore, the study revealed the appropriate tools to measure the mean radiant temperature as well as the most suitable index to assess the outdoor thermal comfort in Jeddah and its need for adjustment.