Effects of Tree Species and Layout on the Outdoor Thermal Environment of Squares in Hot-Humid Areas of China

Abstract

Planting trees is an effective way to regulate the outdoor thermal environment and combat urban heat islands (UHIs). Tree species and layout can have a considerable effect on, for example, the outdoor shading and wind fields, and finally the distribution of the occupant thermal sensations in outdoor spaces. We studied the influence of common tree species and layouts on the outdoor thermal environment under typical summer and winter weather conditions in the hot–humid areas of China. Each arbor model was established by the physical parameters obtained from field measurements. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) was used to evaluate the thermal performance of the outdoor environment. The ENVI-met software was validated with field measurements and then used to assess the outdoor thermal environment under typical summer and winter weather conditions. The results showed the following: (1) Without considering the tree species, the difference in maximum PET values for different planting distances in summer and winter was 1.14 and 2.13 °C, respectively. (2) Planting arbors with different planting methods in inactive spaces had little effect on the thermal environment of the surrounding active space. (3) Arbors with high leaf area density (LAD) values performed better in regulating outdoor thermal comfort than arbors with low LAD values. The maximum differences in PET values of different arbors in summer and winter were 0.98 and 1.37 °C, respectively. This study provides practical suggestions for arbor planting in square spaces in the hot–humid areas of China.