The outdoor thermal comfort assessment of different urban configurations within Akure City, Nigeria

The outdoor thermal comfort condition of Akure city has been assessed in this study. Four locations within the city (Airport, Ijapo, Alagbaka and Oja Oba) with varying urban settings were the focus in this study. The monthly and diurnal variation of thermal comfort within these locations were reported, as well as the frequency of occurrence of each thermal comfort sensation class. Temperature Humidity Index (THI) was used to compute the comfort values and determine sensation levels using air temperature and relative humidity data obtained during the field measurement campaign from January to December 2009. Results from the study showed that thermal comfort varies monthly. March was observed to be the most thermally stressed month, while August was the least. Diurnal variation showed that the period between 1400 and 1600 h was the least comfortable time of the day as the condition reached "hot" thermal sensation level. The comparative analysis between the stations showed that the locations within the Central Business District (CBD) were more thermally discomforting as they had a higher frequency of warm and hot sensations compared to the other locations. This study clearly reveals that thermal comfort conditions have varying thresholds at different locations within the urban area.