Daytime thermal performance of different urban surfaces: a case study in educational institution precinct of Melbourne

This paper aims to understand thermal behaviour of common urban surface materials in Melbourne's city centre. A set of field experiments were conducted in three open spaces of an educational precinct in Melbourne, Australia. These experiments were performed during three seasons from November 2014 to May 2015. This study monitored and compared daily and seasonal variation of Ta near surfaces (Tns) of eight common materials including asphalt (regular (AA) and painted (PA)), timber (T), Astroturf (AT), garden bed (GB), exposed concrete aggregate (EAC) and granite cobblestone paver (GCP). It also explored the impact of different factors on values of Tns including urban meteorological parameters, design features and the level of light conditions. The results proved the role of cool materials in the mitigation of urban heat island effects. The findings are also promising for enhancing the thermal comfort of urban residents visiting outdoor spaces, particularly during the hot spells.