Summer field work in Utrecht and Wageningen

W. Klemm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleProfessional

Abstract

Fieldwork completed in summer 2013 for PhD research project "Green Infrastructure for climate-proof "Cities" Summer field work in Utrecht and Wageningen By Wiebke Klemm In summer 2013 I completed the fieldwork for my research 'Green infrastructure for climate-proof cities'. After I had investigated the physical and psychological effects of urban green at street and city level in previous years, this year I focused at the park level. The research questions were: What are user patterns of a park on warm/ hot summer days? Which are the most popular places in the park and why? And does this user pattern relates to the actual thermal differences, like in temperature or in radiation, in the park? field work in Utrecht and Wageningen In summer 2013 I completed the fieldwork for my research 'Green infrastructure for climate-proof cities'. After I had investigated the physical and psychological effects of urban green at street and city level in previous years, this year I focused at the park level. The research questions were: What are user patterns of a park on warm/ hot summer days? Which are the most popular places in the park and why? And does this user pattern relates to the actual thermal differences, like in temperature or in radiation, in the park? To answer those questions, I conducted interviews and observations on 14 summer days in July and August. The cases were the Wilhelminapark, the most popular park in Utrecht and the Torckpark in Wageningen. In the second park, the department of Meteorology and Air Quality of the Wageningen University was performing micrometeorological measurements with their cargo-bicycle in the same period. Using the measurement data on air temperature, solar radiation, humidity etc. I will be able to compare the results of the observations and interviews with the actual thermal conditions in the parks. In total we conducted 112 observations (including protocols, maps and photographs) and 451 interviews with park users. Remarkable was the low non-response rate; just one of the five respondents did not want to participate in the interviews. Another striking preliminary outcome in comparison with earlier interview results in streets and on squares in Utrecht, was how pleasant people perceived the momentary thermal conditions in both parks. Regardless of the temperature, exact location in sun or shade or clothing, people felt thermally comfortable! - Further analyses will give insight in specific user patterns and peoples preferences in terms of microclimate and esthetics within the two parks.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2-2
JournalNewsletter Climate Proof Cities
Volume2013
Issue number21
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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