title: Thermal comfort modelling of body temperature and psychological variations of a human exercising in an outdoor environment.
abstract: Human thermal comfort assessments pertaining to exercise while in outdoor environments can improve urban and recreational planning. The current study applied a simple four-segment skin temperature approach to the COMFA (COMfort FormulA) outdoor energy balance model. Comparative results of measured mean skin temperature ([Formula: see text]) with predicted [Formula: see text] indicate that the model accurately predicted [Formula: see text], showing significantly strong agreement (r = 0.859, P < 0.01) during outdoor exercise (cycling and running). The combined 5-min mean variation of the [Formula: see text] RMSE was 1.5°C, with separate cycling and running giving RMSE of 1.4°C and 1.6°C, respectively, and no significant difference in residuals. Subjects' actual thermal sensation (ATS) votes displayed significant strong rank correlation with budget scores calculated using both measured and predicted [Formula: see text] (r                         (                            s                         ) = 0.507 and 0.517, respectively, P < 0.01). These results show improved predictive strength of ATS of subjects as compared to the original and updated COMFA models. This psychological improvement, plus [Formula: see text] and T                         (c) validations, enables better application to a variety of outdoor spaces. This model can be used in future research studying linkages between thermal discomfort, subsequent decreases in physical activity, and negative health trends.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada. vanosj@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vanos
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Warland
authors.forename: Terry J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Natasha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013696:Temperature; D013697:Thermosensing; D055815:Young Adult