Could mental maps help to improve thermal comfort and reduce heat stress in urban areas? A case study of three Central European cities

0572669 - ÚI 2024 US eng A - Abstract
Lehnert, M. - Geletič, Jan - Kopp, J. - Brabec, Marek - Jurek, M. - Květoňová, V. - Pánek, J.
Could mental maps help to improve thermal comfort and reduce heat stress in urban areas? A case study of three Central European cities.
23rd International Congress of Biometeorology - Abstract Book – Monday, May 15. Tempe: Arizona State University / International Congress of Biometeorology, 2023. s. 21-21.
[International Congress of Biometeorology /23./. 14.05.2023-17.05.2023, Tempe]
R&D Projects: GA TA ČR(CZ) TO01000219
Institutional support: RVO:67985807
OECD category: Meteorology and atmospheric sciences
https://biomet23.asu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2023/05/ICB2023_Abstracts_MonMay15.pdf

With increasing urbanization and climate change, citizens are more frequently exposed to heat stress. In the current pragmatists’ discourse, efforts to adapt cities to deteriorating climate conditions should reflect not only the objective (physical) effect of the proposed measures, but also citizens’ preferences, which influence the perception schemata and mental image of a place. This study employs the approach of mental mapping to identify mental hotspots and coldspots in three Central European cities. Personal behavioral adaptation measures and citizens’ preferences for measures ameliorating thermal comfort in thermally uncomfortable areas are further analyzed. Mental maps can be used to improve thermal comfort and reduce heat stress by helping people navigate through the city in ways that minimize their exposure to excess heat. Mental mapping can also facilitate improvement of thermal comfort and reduction of heat stress by helping people locate and access resources that provide relief from the heat, such as public fountains, parks, or air-conditioned buildings. Mental maps allow us to identify and prioritize areas of the city that are most in need of interventions to improve thermal comfort and reduce heat stress. Results of our case study show that the most preferred measures are trees and parks and a combination of greenery with blue elements. Other measures, such as temporary greenery, green roofs and facades, exterior shading elements, water spraying and misting, and street sprinkling, are substantially less frequently proposed. However, there are spatial differences between the preferred measures, which we will analyze statistically. It turns out that it will be important to reflect these relationships in effective heat stress mitigation strategies and urban planning.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0343280