Outdoor Thermal Comfort of Older People in Vulnerable Urban Areas in a Warming World

Evidence from Porto, Portugal

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19489242
AutoresMd Imtiaz Ahmad (0009-0007-6927-1000, Universidade do Porto, autor de correspondencia), Rachita Klinmalee (0009-0005-2831-2502, Universidade do Porto), Helena Corvacho (0000-0002-0398-3423, Universidade do Porto, autor de correspondencia), Franklin Gabriel Menezes Gaspar (0009-0009-1013-3767, Universidade do Porto), Pedro Conceição (0000-0003-1692-8340), Paulo Conceição (0000-0002-0026-5581, Universidade do Porto), Sara Cruz (0000-0002-9918-9290, Universidade do Porto), Luisa Batista (0000-0002-9531-6723, Universidade do Porto), Cecilia Rocha (0000-0002-4044-9780, Universidade do Porto), Fernando Brandão Alves (0000-0001-5993-528X, Universidade do Porto), Anabela Ribeiro (0000-0002-4716-979X, Universidade do Porto), Rui Jorge Garcia Ramos (0000-0001-8234-5974, Universidade do Porto), Gisela Lameira (0000-0001-7404-7168, Universidade do Porto), Ana Martins (0000-0002-9271-2114, Universidade do Porto), Ana Silva Fernandes (0000-0003-1481-9060, Universidade do Porto), Joel Silva (0000-0002-7966-0276, Universidade do Porto), Teodora Figueiredo (0009-0009-0183-000X, Universidade do Porto), Luís Midão (0000-0003-1981-2554, Universidade do Porto), Leovaldo Alcântara (0000-0002-6362-6786, Universidade do Porto), Inês Mimoso (0000-0003-3573-7232, Universidade do Porto), Elı́sio Costa (0000-0003-1158-1480, Universidade do Porto)
Año2026
Volumen10
Número5
Páginas249
Fecha de publicación2026-05-05
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaUrban Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2413-8851 • E-ISSN: 2413-8851
EditorialMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/urbansci10050249
OpenAlexW7160310143
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas47

Amid growing concerns over global warming, ensuring the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) of public urban spaces is crucial for creating liveable and resilient cities. This study focused on the intensification of the urban heat island (UHI) effect and the heat stress experienced by the vulnerable older population. Evidence was found through the case study in a highly vulnerable area of Porto, with a high ageing ratio. The primary aim was to assess the influence of design-based adaptation strategies on OTC using ENVI-met, with a specific focus on older adults. Thermal stress was evaluated using the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index. The analysis confirms that older adults consistently experience higher PET values (+2–5 °C) and larger areas of thermal discomfort than active-age adults. Simulations reveal that the effectiveness of adaptation measures depends on the characteristics of the urban space but enhanced green infrastructure achieves the most significant heat mitigation results. Artificial shading only provides localized thermal relief. Cool pavements contribute meaningfully by lowering surface heat storage and reducing longwave radiation. However, their impact on PET, beneficial or detrimental, depends significantly on the morphology of the outdoor space and the materials used. In the analysed street canyon, PET was higher in the central hours of the day for both age ranges, when the pavement material had a higher albedo. An effective heat mitigation needs a combination of vegetation-based strategies and climate-responsive materials to ensure comfortable and age-inclusive public spaces. This research presents an actionable methodological approach for evaluating and enhancing OTC, advocating the use of microclimate simulations in a carefully selected set of public spaces within an intervention urban area to define effective climate adaptation measures for each space

Climate change · Equivalent temperature · Heat stress · Microclimate · Older people · Public space · Thermal comfort · Urban heat island · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Heat Island Mitigation

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