Optimization design of waterfront tour routes under thermal comfort assessment in summer—a case study of West Lake in Hangzhou, China

Abstract

The existing research on waterfront tour route planning suggests that thermal comfort assessment has a direct impact on people’s outdoor tour experiences. It contributes to understanding the thermal comfort regulation mechanisms of landscape nodes and the scientific planning of tour routes. However, the research in this area is relatively limited and faces complex issues in data processing and analysis. This study takes the West Lake waterfront tour route in Hangzhou, China, as an example. Through empirical research, it validates the feasibility of tour route planning guided by thermal comfort. It employs field surveys, on-site measurements, and data analysis methods primarily based on the Rayman software to explore the relationship between urban outdoor waterfront spaces and microclimates. The study reveals the following findings: (i) Extensive water bodies surrounding an area positively regulate local microclimates. The closer one is to the water and the more water surrounds the area, the stronger the microclimate effect. (ii) Factors such as spatial openness, waterfront orientation, prevailing monsoons, etc. all have certain impacts on the microclimates of the lake and lakeside spaces. (iii) Air temperature has significant variability in its impact on human thermal comfort, with different PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature) values at each measurement point during different time periods. The study combines the actual human thermal comfort conditions at eight measurement points around the lake with existing tour routes. It proposes two practical tour route optimization designs based on real tour microclimate factors. These designs employ thermal comfort assessment methods to effectively enhance and improve human thermal comfort during tours. This research carries social value and provides new insights for mitigating urban waterfront space microclimates, enhancing tour comfort, and improving landscape environments.

Keywords

• thermal comfort assessment
• urban waterfront space
• tour routes
• optimization design
• west lake in hangzhou, china