• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2022

The human thermal environment in an apartment complex located in Seoul was quantitatively analyzed to devise methods to modify human heat-related stresses in landscape and urban planning. Microclimatic data (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and short- and long-wave radiation) were collected at 6 locations [Apt-center, roof (cement), roof (grass), ground, playground, and a tree-lined road] in the late spring and summer, and the data were used to estimate the human thermal sensation, physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and universal thermal climate index (UTCI). As a result, the playground location had the highest thermal environment, and the roof (grass) location had the lowest. The mean difference between the two locations was 0.8-1.1℃ in air temperature, 1.8-4.0% in relative humidity, and 7.5-8.0℃ in mean radiant temperature. In open space locations, the wind speed was 0.4-0.5 ms-1 higher than others. Also, a wind tunnel effect happened at the Apt-center location during the afternoon. For the human thermal sensation, PET and UTCI, the mean differences between the playground and roof (grass) locations were: 5.2℃ (Max. 11.7℃) in late spring and 5.4℃ (Max. 18.1℃) in summer in PET; and 3.0℃ (Max. 6.1℃) in late spring and 2.6℃ (Max. 9.8℃) in summer in UTCI. The mean differences indicated a level change in PET and 1/2 level in UTCI, and the maximum differences showed greater changes, 2-3 levels in PET, and 1-1.5 levels in UTCI. Moreover, the roof (grass) location gave 4.6℃ PET reduction and a 2.5℃ UTCI reduction in late spring, and a 4.4℃ PET reduction and a 2.0℃ UTCI reduction in the summer when compared with the roof (cement) location, which results in a 2/3 level change in PET and a 1/3 level in UTCI. Green infrastructure locations [roof (grass), ground, and a tree-lined road] were not statistically significant in the reduction of PET and UTCI in thermal environment modifying effects. The implementation of green infrastructure, such as rooftop gardens, grass pavement, and street tree planting, should be adopted in landscape planning and be employed for human thermal environment modification.