Conforto térmico em espaço público: avaliação da praça central de Mar de Espanha e a influência do entorno urbano

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate thermal comfort in the Central Square of Mar de Espanha, located in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, and to understand how elements of the urban surroundings influenced the thermal quality of this public space. The research was based on the recognition that squares play a central role in urban life, contributing to social interaction, the preservation of cultural ambiance, and the improvement of environmental quality. Considering building density, paving, and vegetation as key variables in microclimate regulation, the study sought to assess how the configuration of the square and its immediate surroundings affected thermal comfort conditions for users. The methodology combined a bibliographic and documentary review with a case study, in which microclimatic data collection campaigns were conducted at different points in the square, covering air temperature and relative humidity, recorded hourly throughout different times of the day and in distinct seasons. The data were analyzed using Thom’s Discomfort Index (DI), a parameter that allowed the classification of comfort and discomfort sensations based on simple variables, widely used in urban studies. The research intended to identify thermal variation patterns, relate them to the presence of vegetation, paving, and building heights in the surroundings, and assess the extent to which the square contributed to mitigating the urban microclimate of a small town. It was expected that the final results would provide support for urban planning strategies that integrated environmental and cultural values, strengthening the role of squares as democratic and thermally comfortable public spaces.