UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

DANIAL GOSHAYESHI

FRSB 2013 4

DIFFERENCES IN THERMAL COMFORT AT BUS STOPS WITH POLYCARBONATE AND OPAQUE ROOFING AT

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA, SERDANG, MALAYSIA

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DIFFERENCES IN THERMAL COMFORT AT BUS STOPS WITH POLYCARBONATE AND OPAQUE ROOFING AT UNIVERSITI PUTRA

MALAYSIA, SERDANG, MALAYSIA

By

DANIAL GOSHAYESHI

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

November 2013

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COPYRIGHT

All materials contained within the thesis, including without limitation text, logos, icons, photographs and all other artwork, is copyright material of Universiti Putra Malaysia unless otherwise stated. Use may be made of any material contained within the thesis for non-commercial purposes from the copyright holder. Commercial use of material may only be made with the express, prior, written permission of university Putra Malaysia.

Copyright © Universiti Putra Malaysia

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DEDICATION

To my dear parents who gave me the opportunity to experience life, their love, and

affability

&

To my lovely sister who always make me confident with her patronage and blithe

&

To my beloved wife who is my mainstay forever

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Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

DIFFERENCES IN THERMAL COMFORT AT BUS STOPS WITH POLYCARBONATE AND OPAQUE ROOFING AT UNIVERSITI PUTRA

MALAYSIA, SERDANG, MALAYSIA

By

DANIAL GOSHAYESHI

November 2013

Chairman: Mohamad Fakri Zaky Bin Jaafar, PhD

Faculty: Design and Architecture

The quality of outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces influences on well-being and performance of people. Among many factors, thermal condition plays significant role in satisfaction of individuals in such spaces. Although the exploring human thermal comfort in outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces, especially in equatorial climatic condition, is vital, the numbers of studies which mainly focus on this context are few. This fact shows the need of evaluating human thermal comfort in hot and humid climate by taking into consideration the objective microclimate factors along with subjective parameters. Bus stops as a semi-outdoor space can greatly affect the thermal comfort of passengers during the day. Among many elements, roofing material of bus stops has profound effects on thermal sensation of individuals. Consequently, a quantitative field study was implemented in this study in order to assessment the human thermal comfort differences between installing Polycarbonate translucent plastic and opaque roofing cover in bus stops of University Putra Malaysia campus and understanding the thermal preferences of users. Hence, the measuring of four principal microclimatic factors (i.e. air temperature, wind speed, mean radiant temperature and relative humidity) together with subjective questionnaire survey were conducted in order to evaluating thermal sensation and thermal preferences of respondents, simultaneously.

This study utilized Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) as an appropriate thermal index for assessing environmental thermal condition in outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces. The results of this study reveal that opaque roofing material provides better thermal condition for passengers both objectively and subjectively comparing Polycarbonate roofing sheets. The average values of air temperature and PET for

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Polycarbonate roofing material is higher than opaque station but the humidity values for opaque is places in higher level. The results of questionnaire survey revealed that respondents under bus shelter with opaque roofing material felt more comfortable thermal condition than those under Polycarbonate shelter. Also, it is shown that subjective parameters play significant role in human thermal comfort in semi-outdoor spaces, so, it is needed to take into account the subjective factors for the future studies. Furthermore, this study shows that people in Malaysia can tolerate in higher thermal condition comparing those in Europe or Taiwan. Moreover, the result of this study illustrates that shading has a significant effects on thermal satisfaction of people and well-covered spaces provide better thermal environment for users. The findings of this study can be applied in the future design decision-making concerning outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces for providing thermally comfortable non-indoor spaces which can be leaded to increasing the usage of such spaces. In conclusion, the findings of this study contribute towards improving the quality of bus stops as semi-outdoor spaces for passengers in Tropical climate of Malaysia for enhancing the quality of life in urban areas.

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Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains

PERBEZAAN KESELESAAN TERMAL DR ANTARA BUMBUNG POLIKABONAT DAN BUMBUNG LEGAP DI PERHENTIAL BAS DI

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA SERDANG

Oleh

DANIAL GOSHAYESHI

November 2013

Pengerusi: Mohamad Fakri Zaky Bin Jaafar, PhD

Fakulti: Rekabentuk dan Senibina

Kualiti persekitaran luar dan separa luar mempengaruhi keselesaan dan prestasi manusia. Dalam pelbagai faktor, haba memainkan peranan yang paling ketara dalam keselesaan individu dalam persekitaran. Walaupun kajian terhadap haba yang sesuai untuk manusia di kawasan luar dan separa luar terutama di kawasan khatulistiwa adalah penting, tetapi jumlah kajian yang berkaitan dan fokus kepada bidang ini adalah sedikit. Fakta ini menunjukkan bahawa keperluan menilai keselesaan haba untuk manusia dalam iklim panas dan lembap adalah penting dengan mengambil kira faktor-faktor mikro-iklim dan parameter. Perhentian bas merupakan ruang separa luar yang banyak menjejaskan keselesaan haba kepada penumpang pada siang hari. Antara pelbagai unsur yang terlibat, bahan pada bumbung perhentian bas mempunyai kesan yang mendalam terhadap haba individu. Oleh itu, kajian kuantitatif telah dilaksanakan dalam kajian ini untuk menilai perbezaan keselesaan haba manusia antara dengan memasang plastik polikarbonat lutsinar dan penutup bumbung legap bagi perhentian bas di kampus Universiti Putra Malaysia dan di samping memahami keutamaan haba kepada pengguna. Oleh itu, pengukuran empat faktor utama iklim mikro (suhu udara, kelajuan angin, suhu purata, dan kelembapan relatif) bersama-sama dengan soal selidik telah dijalankan dalam usaha untuk menilai haba dan keutamaan haba pengguna secara serentak.

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Kajian ini menggunakan Suhu Setaraf Fisiologi (PET) sebagai indeks terma yang sesuai untuk menilai keadaan haba alam sekitar di kawasan luar dan separuh luar. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa bahan bumbung legap menyediakan keadaan haba yang lebih baik untuk penumpang secara objektif dan subjektif berbanding dengan kepingan atap polikarbonat. Nilai purata suhu udara dan PET untuk polikarbonat bahan bumbung adalah lebih tinggi daripada stesen legap tetapi nilai-nilai kelembapan untuk legap adalah tempat di peringkat yang lebih tinggi. Manakala, hasil borang kaji selidik menunjukkan responden di bawah perhentian bas yang menggunakan bahan bumbung legap memberi keadaan haba yang lebih selesa daripada reponden di bawah perlindungan Polikarbonat. Ia juga menunjukkan bahawa parameter subjektif memainkan peranan yang penting dalam keselesaan haba manusia dalam ruang separa luar, jadi, ia diperlukan untuk mengambil kira faktor-faktor subjektif untuk kajian masa hadapan. Tambahan pula, kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa orang Malaysia boleh bertolak ansur dalam keadaan yang haba lebih tinggi berbanding orang di Eropah atau Taiwan. Selain itu, hasil kajian ini menggambarkan teduhan mempunyai kesan yang besar ke atas kepuasan haba manusia manakala ruang yang dilindungi menyediakan persekitaran haba yang lebih baik bagi pengguna. Hasil kajian ini boleh digunakan untuk mereka bentuk keputusan di masa hadapan bagi persekitaran luar dan separa luar dan menyediakan haba yang selesa bagi persekitaran luaran yang boleh membawa kepada peningkatan penggunaan ruang tersebut. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menyumbang ke arah meningkatkan kualiti perhentian bas sebagai persekitaran separa luar untuk penumpang dalam Malaysia yang iklim Tropika dan meningkatkan kualiti hidup di kawasan bandar.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am really grateful to my honorable supervisor, Dr. Zaky Jaafar, Dr. Mohd Fairuz

Shahidan who supported me with their knowledge and proficiency during master degree.

I would like to express my extreme gratefulness to my beloved family who are

motivating me in all stages of my life with their love, support and guidance.

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APPROVAL SHEET 1

I clarify that a Thesis Examination Committee has met on ……..……… to conduct the

final examination of Danial Goshayeshi on his thesis entitled “HUMAN THERMAL

COMFORT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INSTALLING POLYCARBONATE

AND OPAQUE ROOFING MATERIALS IN BUS STOPS OF UPM” in accordance

with the Universiti Putra Malaysia [P.U.(A) 106] 15 March 1998. The Committee

recommends that the student be awarded the Master of Science.

Members of the Thesis Examination Committee were as follows:

Name of Chairperson, PhD………………………………………………….…

Title………………………………………………………………………………

Name of Faculty…………………………………………………………………

University Putra Malaysia

Name of Examiner 1, PhD……………………………………………….……

Title………………………………………………………………...……………

Name of Faculty…………………………………………...……………………

University Putra Malaysia

(Internal Examiner)

Name of Examiner 2, PhD……………….……………………………………

Title………………………………………………..……………………………

Name of Faculty……………………….…………………………………………

University Putra Malaysia

(Internal Examiner)

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This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been

accepted as fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The

members of the Supervisory Committee were as follows:

Mohamad Fakri Zaky BIN Ja'afar, PhD

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Design and Architecture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Chairman)

Mohd Fairuz BIN Shahidan, PhD

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Design and Architecture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Member)

Nur Dalilah BINTI Dahlan, PhD

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Design and Architecture

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Member)

BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD Professor and Dean School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date: 13 November 2013

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Declaration by graduate student I hereby confirm that:

This thesis is my original work; Quotations, illustrations and citations have been duly referenced; This thesis has not been submitted previously or concurrently for any other degree at

any other institutions; Intellectual property from the thesis and copyright of thesis are fully-owned by

Universiti Putra Malaysia, as according to the Universiti Putra Malaysia (Research) Rules 2012;

Written permission must be obtained from supervisor and the office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (research and Innovation) before thesis is published in book form;

There is no plagiarism or data falsification/fabrication in the thesis, and scholarly integrity is upheld as according to the Universiti Putra Malaysia (Graduate Studies) Rules 2003 (Revision 2012-2013) and the Universiti Putra Malaysia (Research) Rules 2012. The thesis has undergone plagiarism detection software.

Signature: Date: 13 November 2013

Name and Matric No.: Danial Goshayeshi (GS29737)

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Declaration by Members of Supervisory Committee

This is to confirm that:

The research conducted and the written of the thesis was under our supervision; Supervision responsibilities as stated in the Universiti Putra Malaysia (Graduate

Studies) Ruled 2013 (Revision 2012-2013) are adhered to.

Signature:

Name of Chairman of Supervisory Committee

MOHAMAD FAKRI ZAKY BIN JA'AFAR, PhD

Signature:

Name of Member of Supervisory Committee

MOHD FAIRUZ BIN SHAHIDAN, PhD

Signature:

Name of Member of Supervisory Committee

NUR DALILAH BINTI DAHLAN, PhD

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

DEDICATION ii

ABSTRACT iii

ABSTRAK v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT vii

APPROVAL viii

DECLARATION x

LIST OF TABLES xvi

LIST OF FIGURES xvii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xix

CHAPTER

1 INTORUCTION 1.1 Background Problem 1 1.2 Research Problem 2 1.3 Research Question 3 1.4 Research Objectives 3 1.5 Methodology 4 1.6 Results and Analysis 4 1.7 Research Framework 5 1.8 Limitation 5 1.9 Contribution 6 1.10 The Research Organization 6

2 LITER ATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2 The Malaysia’s Climate 7

2.2.1 Introduction 7 2.2.2 Temperature 8 2.2.3 Relative Humidity 9 2.2.4 Solar Radiation 9 2.2.5 Wind 10

2.3 Climate of Malaysia and Human Thermal Comfort 10 2.4 Urban Design and Outdoor Spaces 11

2.4.1 Introduction 11

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2.4.2 The Outdoor Spaces’ Quality 11 2.4.3 Semi-outdoor Spaces 12 2.4.5 Bus Stops’ Roofing Material 13

2.5 Translucent Materials 14 2.5.1 Introduction 14 2.5.2 Polycarbonate Plastic (PC) Roofing Sheet 14

2.6 Opaque materials 15 2.7 Human Thermal Comfort 15

2.7.1 Introduction 15 2.7.2 Definition and Theory 16 2.7.3 Thermal Comfort Indices 17 2.7.4 The None-Steady-State Model 18 2.7.5 The Human Energy Balance 18 2.7.6 Choice of Thermal Comfort Index 20 2.7.7 The Physiological Equivalent Temperature 21

2.8 The Rayman Software 21 2.8.1 Calculating PET using Rayman Software 21 2.8.2 Calculation of Sky View Factor (SVF) 22

2.9 Methods of Assessing Thermal Comfort 23 2.10 The Adaptive Thermal Comfort 24

2.10.1 Physiological Adaptation 24 2.10.2 Behavioural (Physical) Adaptation 25 2.10.3 Psychological Adaptation 25

2.11 Human Thermal Comfort in Semi-Outdoor Spaces 26 2.12 Outdoor or Semi-Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Equatorial Regions 28 2.13 Thermal Comfort in Outdoor and Semi-Outdoor Spaces of Malaysia 32 2.14 Classification of approaches for assessment thermal comfort in

outdoor spaces 33

2.14.1 Questionnaire along with field measurement 33 2.14.2 The longitude 34 2.14.3 The computational simulation 34 2.15 Summery 35

3 METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION 3.1 Introduction 37 3.2 Research Method 37 3.3 Thermal Comfort Field Measurement 37

3.3.1 Introduction 37 3.3.2 Study Area 38 3.3.3 Time of Data Collection 41

3.4 Thermal Environment Field Measurement 42 3.4.1 Introduction 42 3.4.2 Instrument of Data Collection 43 3.4.3 Calculating Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) 44 3.4.4 Measurement Procedure 44 3.4.5 Calculation of Sky View Factor 45

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3.5 Thermal Comfort Questionnaire Survey 45 3.5.1 Introduction 45 3.5.2 The aim of population and sample size 46 3.5.3 Questionnaire Design 46 3.5.4 Structure of Questionnaire 47

3.6 Pilot Study 49 3.7 Analysis Unit 49

3.7.1 Input PET 50 3.7.2 Survey Analysis 50

3.8 Summery 51

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 The Questionnaire Survey Findings 52

4.4.1 Introduction 52 4.2 The Sample’s Character Descriptions 52 4.3 Results for Microclimate Conditions’ Sensations and Preferences 56

4.3.1 Air Temperature (Ta) 57 4.3.2 Wind Speed (v) 61 4.3.3 Relative Humidity (RH) 64 4.3.4 Solar Radiation 68 4.3.5 Overall Thermal Comfort 72

4.4 Discussion on the subjective comfort level 74 4.5 Field Measurement Results 75

4.5.1 Introduction 75 4.5.2 Air temperature’s values 76 4.5.3 Relative humidity’s values 79 4.5.4 Wind speed’s values 81 4.5.5 Mean radiant temperature’s values (Tmrt) 83 4.5.6 Sky View Factor (SVF) 85 4.5.7 Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) 87

4.6 Discussion on thermal comfort in the study areas 90 4.7 Comparative analysis on measurement field and subjective

assessment 92

4.8 Summery 95

5 CONCUSION AND FUTURE STUDIES 5.1 Introduction 97 5.2 Conclusions 97 5.3 Knowledge contribution 98 5.4 Recommendation for future investigations 99

REFERENCES 101 APPENDIX A 114 APPENDIX B 122