Improving Thermal Comfort of Pedestrian Paths in University Campuses in Hot-Dry Areas: Case Study Assiut National University | ||
| Assiut University Bulletin for Environmental Researches | ||
| Volume 28, Issue 2, October 2025, Pages 77-102 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/auber.2025.398890.1102 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Rasha Mazen Abdel Salam* 1; Ahmed El Shahat2 | ||
| 1Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Assiut University, Assiut | ||
| 2Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Zagazig, Zagazig, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Due to the harsh climatic conditions faced by pedestrians on campus paths in areas with a hot, dry climate, providing thermal comfort in these walkways is a significant challenge. Therefore, it has become essential to address how to improve the level of thermal comfort for pedestrians on campus. Assiut National University is established in a hot, dry desert. Daily student movement between college buildings on pedestrian walkways created a pressing need to provide a thermally comfortable environment along these ways. This research focuses on studying how to improve thermal comfort in pedestrian paths within the Assiut National University campus by analyzing the impact of solar radiation, temperature, and relative humidity, as the most significant climatic factors affecting thermal comfort. To achieve the study's goal, a combination of inductive and analytical methods is utilized, along with an experimental approach based on field measurements. The research findings revealed that pedestrian walkways lack thermal comfort, primarily due to the absence of measures to mitigate the effects of three climatic factors: solar radiation, high temperatures, and low humidity. No green spaces remain between buildings, albedo values reach high levels on green grass, and walkways lack adequate shading. The main pedestrian path is characterized by a distance between buildings exceeding 90 meters, yet it lacks sufficient green spaces and large canopies to provide shade in these vast open spaces. The height-to-width ratio is 1.5, causing a significant increase in temperature. Based on these observations, a set of recommendations is proposed to enhance thermal comfort along pedestrian paths, with potential application in similar urban projects located in harsh climates. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Pedestrian paths; Thermal Comfort; University Campus; Assiut National University; " Hot-Dry" areas | ||
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