Impact of Compact Low-Rise Development and Subjective Perception on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Vijayawada

Heatwaves are emerging as a critical challenge in the urban areas in recent years. The IPCC report states that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-induced climate change and will further worsen in South Asia during the 21st century. India experiences increasing heat exposure, with urbanization rising from 30% in 2011 to a 40% projection by 2030. Heat stress causes distress and deaths, highlighting the need for better urban planning, especially in Vijayawada, India's second most heat-stressed city, where temperatures exceed 30°C throughout the year. In Indian cities, limited open spaces force daily and recreational activities onto streets, which serve as vital social and economic hubs, raising concerns about thermal comfort. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the influence of urban form on the perception of outdoor thermal comfort in Vijayawada—a tier-II city with LCZ3 as the dominant local climate Zone. A commercial and residential neighborhood in LCZ3 were chosen for the study and compared with a park in LCZB, to infer if calm environments were comfortable than noisy urban areas. Onsite measurements were taken with a portable weather station, and a questionnaire survey assessed the impact of urban form and acoustics on the TSV and TCV across different age groups and genders. A total of 180 responses were analyzed. The study revealed that noise had a greater impact on user satisfaction than aesthetics; individuals above 50 years were very sensitive to thermal variations. Parks significantly improved the comfort perceptions, especially for frequent users. Residents who stayed in the ground floor were more satisfied with thermal conditions than others. Acclimatization was significant in the residential neighborhood when compared to the commercial users. The findings of the study reveal that residential neighbourhoods had a wide adaptive range when compared to commercial neighborhoods.