Enhancing citizen climate resilience identification: A customization methodology to tailor comfort metrics to individual preferences

Abstract

Occupants' adaptability varies based on the climate. Therefore, adaptation measures should be adapted not only to suit the climate but also to the occupants. A holistic methodology is proposed to customise comfort index by adjusting them to the specific preferences of the occupants. The methodology involves collecting subjective and objective data. A measurement procedure is designed to gather comprehensive information, including a low-cost effective procedure to disaggregate the Mean Radiant Temperature between long and short-wavelength effects, essential for outdoor comfort. This customisation is applied to the COMFA index in different real cases. The results show that children in relaxed environments demonstrate 50 % higher resilience than the standard scale, while adults can tolerate 30 % higher thermal loads than the standard when resting. Furthermore, under identical circumstances, children exhibit 8 % greater resilience than adults. Conversely, radiant exchange decomposition indicates that a 30 % augmentation in the short wavelength effect is associated with a 45 % increase in the occupant's thermal load. This methodology facilitates the identification of measures to achieve optimal levels of comfort adapted to the occupants in any climate and area under study. It also contributes to the promotion of urban design and planning that enhances the resilience of citizens.