Urban Area Sustainability Analysis by Means of Integrated Microclimatic Measurement Techniques Combined with Thermal Comfort Modelling—A Pilot Project Application.

Although the literature is rich in studies of indoor thermal comfort, there is a lack of research on outdoor thermal comfort, despite its importance in response to global warming and the rise of urban heat islands. Physics models addressing spatial (urban energy form, green areas) and temporal (climate variability) factors are urgently needed. This study proposes a useful method for outdoor comfort evaluation at a district scale, based on the energy form of built-up areas and hyperlocal climatic conditions. It enables the determination of distributed Physiological Environmental Temperature values at a district scale, assessing the greenery effect and mutual radiative exchanges. Applied to a case study in Florence, Italy, it integrates multiple measurement techniques. The main results highlight the model’s ability to evaluate outdoor thermal perception through the new identified indicator of Virtual Physiological Environmental Temperature (PET*) spread, ranging from 23.5 to 101.0 ◦C, specifically referring to the worst climatic conditions inside an urban canyon in relation to different real scenarios. The results confirm the method’s effectiveness as a tool for thermodynamics and planning for the well-being of an urban built-up environment. It offers useful support for sustainability and human-centric design, oriented to UHI mitigation and climate change adaptation strategies.