2.1. Site Description

Our study was conducted in Fuxin, a city in Liaoning Province, located in the northeastern part of China. Based on the Koppen Climate Classification [26], Fuxin has a monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate (Dwa), characterized by long cold winters and short and mild summers. Figure 1 shows the average, maximum, and minimum air temperature (T_a) and mean relative humidity (RH) values in Fuxin between 1971 and 2003. The average T_a is highest in July at 26.1 °C and lowest in January at −16.2 °C. The maximum T_a is highest in June at 31.4 °C and lowest in January at −22.0 °C. The relative humidity is high in winter and summer, around 70%, and low in spring and autumn.

Monthly mean/maximum/minimum air temperature and mean relative humidity in Fuxin from 1971 to 2003. Source: Meteorological database for thermal environment analysis of Chinese buildings.

The field campaign of outdoor activities was carried out on the campus of Liaoning Technical University. The campus has a wide variety of thermal environments for different outdoor activities. Figure 2 shows the studied outdoor spaces, including basketball courts (Place #1), a shaded square (Place #2), an open square (Place #3), a football field (Place #4), the entrance of one teaching building (Place #5), and a pedestrian road (Place #6). The main users of the campus were university students. Optional and social activities, such as playing football and basketball, jogging, strolling, or just standing, relaxing and chatting happened at Place #1 to Place #4. Place #5, the entrance of a teaching building, was selected to study the influence of the thermal environment on going to classrooms, which is considered a necessary activity. Place #6 is a pedestrian road with partial shading for the study of shade-seeking behavior.

Selected places of study and corresponding activities at each place: (1) Basketball court, (2) Shaded square, (3) Open square, (4) Football field, (5) Teaching building entrance, and (6) Pedestrian road.