This study evaluates the cooling effects of small-scale water features and fog systems in Sangju Namsan Park, South Korea, focusing on their impact on thermal comfort. While previous studies have demonstrated the potential of urban parks in reducing temperatures, studies on small-scale interventions that examine their effects on thermal comfort and analyze microclimate data collected in specific areas are limited. This study collected and analyzed microclimate data using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and physiological equivalent temperature (PET) to assess the effectiveness of a small water path and a cooling fog system. The results indicate that surface temperature reductions reached up to 1.1 °C, with the pergola area showing the most significant cooling effect, lowering PET values to an average of 36.2 °C. In contrast, the small water path recorded the highest PET values, peaking at nearly 50.2 °C, likely due to radiant heat from the surrounding surfaces. While these interventions provided localized cooling, their overall effect on urban temperature reduction remained modest. This study suggests that small-scale water features are effective in enhancing thermal comfort in neighborhood parks but must be integrated into broader urban cooling strategies to maximize their impact.

Urban heat islands and rising global temperatures are increasing the need for passive cooling solutions in densely populated areas. This study examines the effectiveness of heat-reflective paint in reducing surface and indoor temperatures in a 33-year-old apartment complex in Gumi City, South Korea. Using mock structures to simulate real building conditions, this experiment measured surface and indoor temperatures in both treated and untreated groups. Data collected from thermal imaging cameras and data loggers demonstrated significant temperature reductions on the treated walls, with surface temperatures lowered by an average of 2.2 °C to 4.3 °C and peak reductions of up to 15.3 °C. Internally, the treated structures showed temperature reductions between 2.1 °C and 4.1 °C, with the largest difference of 4.14 °C observed during peak heat hours. The results highlight the effectiveness of heat-reflective paint in mitigating heat stress and improving indoor thermal comfort, particularly in regions with high solar exposure. This study aims to support vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and economically disadvantaged residents, by providing a cost-effective, sustainable solution to reduce heat exposure in aging urban buildings, thereby enhancing their quality of life.

Urban heat islands (UHI), which are exacerbated by climate change, significantly increase heat stress, particularly affecting vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and children. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various urban heat mitigation technologies, including cooling fog systems, cool roofs (reflective paint), shading structures, and small water paths, in reducing temperatures and enhancing thermal comfort. Field tests were conducted from 2021 to 2023 across Gimhae-si, Yechun-gun, Geyang-gu, and Sangju-si, with support from the Korean Ministry of Environment. The results demonstrated that cooling fog systems provided immediate temperature reductions, lowering ambient temperatures by up to 3.1 °C, while cool roofs reduced surface temperatures by 2–3 °C. Shading structures reduced surface temperatures by up to 10 °C, and small water paths cooled air temperatures by up to 1.5 °C, also increasing humidity and improving thermal comfort. The findings suggest that a combination of these technologies can effectively mitigate urban heat stress, especially in areas with vulnerable populations.

Urban heat islands (UHI), exacerbated by climate change, significantly increase heat stress, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various urban heat mitigation technologies, including cooling fog systems, cool roofs (reflective paint), shading structures, and small water paths, in reducing temperatures and enhancing thermal comfort. Field tests were conducted from 2021 to 2023 across Gimhae-si, Yechun-gun, Geyang-gu, and Sangju-si, with support from the Korean Ministry of Environment. Results demonstrated that cooling fog systems provided immediate temperature reductions, lowering ambient temperatures by up to 3.1°C, while cool roofs reduced surface temperatures by 2-3°C. Shading structures reduced surface temperatures by up to 10°C, and small water paths cooled air temperatures by up to 1.5°C, also increasing humidity and improving thermal comfort. The findings suggest that a combination of these technologies can effectively mitigate urban heat stress, especially in areas with vulnerable populations.

The effects of climate change are widespread globally, and emerging as a threat to vulnerable groups including the elderly, children, and low-income households living in cities. In Korea, The Ministry of Environment has been carrying out a national project to support climate-vulnerable groups by applying cooling systems like cool roofs, cool walls, and shading systems. Measuring the effectiveness of these cooling projects through an appropriate monitoring methodology became more important, as cooling projects have gained huge attention. This study examines the effectiveness of the cooling project applied in the residential area of Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, where most of the residents are elderly people who are vulnerable to heatwaves and intense heat. To measure temperature changes, a data logger and self-developed IoT equipment were installed on the roofs and indoors. Also, a survey was conducted to measure the resident satisfaction with the cooling project. The results are as follows. First, a significant temperature reduction was found in housing where both cool roof and cool wall were applied compared with non-applied housing. The average temperature difference between combined applied housing and non-applied housing was 3.42°C for the roof surfaces. Also, the survey results suggested that most residents were satisfied with the cooling project itself and felt the changes in indoor temperature.

한국조경학회지(Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture)