El rol moderador de factores individuales y sociales en la percepción térmica exterior de los usuarios de las márgenes del río Tomebamba

Abstract

The perception of outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) is an indicator of urban-microclimate quality, and its study bestows guides for an informed urban planning conceived for sustainable development. In this research the general objective was to determine the moderating role of human-dependent factors in the external thermal perception, and to explore differences in thermal comfort requirements among representative groups of users, employing methodologies currently used at international level in OTC research: The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) for the theoretical framework, the thermal index of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) for outdoor comfort, descriptive statistical analysis and inferential methods - ordinal logistic regressions –for the significance of SEM in the thermal sensation votes (TSV) –, statistical analysis of comfort requirements –Neutral Temperature (Tn), Neutral Temperature Range (rTn) and Acceptable Temperature Range (rTa) –, generation of PET index through RayMan 1.2 software, besides other standardized procedures for data collection (microclimatic measurements and questionnaires) described all in this study. 2321 users were surveyed in two sites belonging to representative areas of the Tomebamba river banks in the city of Cuenca – Ecuador. The main results show a moderating role - statistically representative in thermal perception votes (TSV) - of four individual factors: level of physical activity, level of clothing, white skin and perceived insecurity, without any findings of significant social factors. In addition, differences in outdoor thermal comfort requirements between men and women were found for the index employed; the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET). The study was carried out during three representative weeks of the annual climate-type of the city of Cuenca, in the hottest month (January), cooler (July) and intermediate (April).