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Thermal comfort modelling of body temperature and psychological variations of a human exercising in an outdoor environment

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Abstract

Human thermal comfort assessments pertaining to exercise while in outdoor environments can improve urban and recreational planning. The current study applied a simple four-segment skin temperature approach to the COMFA (COMfort FormulA) outdoor energy balance model. Comparative results of measured mean skin temperature (\( \mathop{{\bar{T}}}\nolimits_{{Msk}} \)) with predicted \( \mathop{{\bar{T}}}\nolimits_{{sk}} \) indicate that the model accurately predicted \( \mathop{{\bar{T}}}\nolimits_{{sk}} \), showing significantly strong agreement (r = 0.859, P < 0.01) during outdoor exercise (cycling and running). The combined 5-min mean variation of the \( \mathop{{\bar{T}}}\nolimits_{{sk}} \) RMSE was 1.5°C, with separate cycling and running giving RMSE of 1.4°C and 1.6°C, respectively, and no significant difference in residuals. Subjects’ actual thermal sensation (ATS) votes displayed significant strong rank correlation with budget scores calculated using both measured and predicted \( \mathop{{\bar{T}}}\nolimits_{{sk}} \) (r s  = 0.507 and 0.517, respectively, P < 0.01). These results show improved predictive strength of ATS of subjects as compared to the original and updated COMFA models. This psychological improvement, plus \( \mathop{{\bar{T}}}\nolimits_{{sk}} \) and T c validations, enables better application to a variety of outdoor spaces. This model can be used in future research studying linkages between thermal discomfort, subsequent decreases in physical activity, and negative health trends.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Jennifer K. Vanos, Jon S. Warland & Terry J. Gillespie

  2. Teaching Support Services, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Natasha A. Kenny

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  1. Jennifer K. Vanos
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  2. Jon S. Warland
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  3. Terry J. Gillespie
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  4. Natasha A. Kenny
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Correspondence to Jennifer K. Vanos.

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Vanos, J.K., Warland, J.S., Gillespie, T.J. et al. Thermal comfort modelling of body temperature and psychological variations of a human exercising in an outdoor environment. Int J Biometeorol 56, 21–32 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0393-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0393-2

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