📅 Wednesday 1st July 2026 | 🕐 13:00–14:00
🔗 Click here to join the meeting on MS Teams
Hot urban streets, traffic noise, birdsong under tree canopies, and the changing experience of wind and sunlight while walking can all influence how people perceive outdoor spaces. This study addresses an everyday but often underexplored question: can the acoustic environment influence people’s evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort?
The research combines microclimatic measurements, acoustic measurements, questionnaire surveys, and physiological data. It compares participants’ environmental experiences under stationary and walking conditions, analyses not only objective sound levels but also subjective evaluations of the sound environment, such as whether sounds are perceived as pleasant, natural, noisy, or disturbing. Through this approach, the study aims to contribute to a more integrated, human-centred understanding of urban outdoor comfort and to provide evidence for the design of healthier, more comfortable, and more responsive public spaces.
About the Speaker
Mingda Li is a PhD researcher at the Welsh School of Architecture, specialising in outdoor thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, and urban microclimate. His work combines field measurements, environmental simulation, and data-driven analysis to evaluate the comfort, health, and environmental quality of outdoor spaces. Before starting his PhD, Mingda worked for four years in landscape planning and design, contributing to projects including river corridors, large public parks, and residential developments. With both research and professional practice experience, he is particularly interested in roles related to building performance, sustainability consulting, environmental design, and climate-responsive urban development.
