Mapping Cool Corridors: Thermal Exposure and Shade Dynamics for a Walkable TAMU

Keywords: Thermal Exposure, Shade Dynamics, Cool Corridors, 3D model
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Climate change, now understood as a significant global health threat, is driving an upsurge in extreme heat events that are occurring more often and with greater intensity. College campuses are designed for walkability, with students, faculty, and staff frequently moving between buildings, often exposed to outdoor thermal conditions for extended periods. To study how much of the campus are exposure to direct solar radiation at overheat days. This study generates a set of high-resolution thermal exposure and shade change maps of the Texas A&M campus to guide the development of "cool corridors." Extreme heat presents significant environmental and health risks, affecting both the psychological and physiological well-being of individuals. Cool corridors are pathways designed to minimize thermal exposure by maximizing natural shade or incorporating artificial shading structures. This study creates a digital model of building surfaces and tree canopies, which will serve as inputs for shadow function to produce hourly shade distribution maps for the campus. These shadow maps are overlaid with the campus sidewalk map through an overlay analysis, resulting in hourly sidewalk shadow area maps. By integrating these shadow maps and campus human mobility, the project aims to provide actionable insights for campus planners to design more walkable and comfortable cool corridors, improving the comfort, safety, and well-being of students and staff during periods of extreme heat.