Avaliação do conforto térmico em espaços livres públicos: estudo de caso no entorno de praças do município de Londrina, Paraná

Abstract

Lately, has increased the concern of the population about the urban environment and citizen's quality of life. The afforestation is essential in any urban planning and has significant functions. Considering the importance of afforestation in the quality of life in cities, the present study aimed to investigate how urban vegetation influences the microclimate of the city and relate it to the thermal comfort rates. The research was performed in a region at the interface of Don Bosco and Quebec neighborhoods in Londrina (PR), where each one have a square, one well wooded and the other not so much. The street which interconnect them has an planting irregular as so tunnel of trees. Continuous measurements of temperature and air relative humidity were performed using 16 sensors model HOBO-U23, from 03 September to 3 October 2013. From these values, calculations of thermal comfort rates were performed in the surroundings of the sensors according DIK and ETV. Furthermore, was carried out a survey of all the trees in the studied area and measurements of their canopy cover percentage were done in the trees that were close to the sensors. The results indicated that Horace Wells Square, had the best density and species richness of trees and was able to be 8,7°C colder than Bandeirantes Square. Moreover, it was possible to evaluate that between the sensors on the street, the one that was under the influence of the tunnel of trees was up to 8°C colder then the sensor without influence of surrounding trees. The discomfort rate DIK confirmed the higher frequency of thermal comfort in sites with greater afforestation. For the ETV rate weren't so significant. The results reinforced the need for effective planning of afforestation aiming towards getting both more comfortable conditions in the shadow of the tree canopy, as the aesthetic beauty and other functions that trees can provide.