Evaluation of human thermal comfort and heat stress in an outdoor urban setting in summer under arid climatic conditions

Thermal sensation and heat stress potential were evaluated in summer in an outdoor arid environment. Such evaluation had never been made in arid regions. Various scales: the temperaturehumidity index (THI), physiological effective temperature (PET), universal thermal climatic index (UTCI) and standard effective temperature (SET*) were used for the evaluation. RayMan software model was used to estimate the PET and SET* and the UTCI-calculator was used for UTCI. The required air dry and wet bulb temperatures (Td, Tw), solar radiation flux (S0) and wind speed (V) were measured in summer (April 29–July 15). The results showed that: Persons are exposed to strong heat stress and would feel very hot most of the day time; and they are safe from heat stress risk and would feel comfortable most of the night time. Heat stress levels can be determined using the PET or UTCI scales; both are valid for arid environment and their results are almost similar; however, the THI cannot be used. SET* index specifically describes the thermal sensations and discomfort conditions along with summer days at any activity under arid conditions.