Determination of Thermal Comfort for Social Impact Assessment: Case Study in Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

This study determined the thermal comfort of outdoor recreational park in Kota Damansara, Malaysia. Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) index, Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) and Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) were applied in order to determine thermal comfort in the study area. Comparison and establishment of relationship were done between PMV and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) to demographic factors and affecting factors among visitors of public parks in Kota Damansara. Based on the research analysis, the thermal comfort ranges in urban recreational park of Kota Damansara was within the comfort zone and satisfactory to its users. The comfort level of both public parks by using PMV and TSV was +1.5 and 0 while PPD was 56.70%. The result of this study showed that comfort zone of respondents shifted towards the right of TSV curve. Compact human settlement in the city exacerbated the development of housing to meet the demand, thus affected the amount of green areas available in study area. The results from the research could be useful for landscape's architect, urban planner and engineers to create a sustainable development in Malaysia or all over the world.