Transitional spaces in São Paulo, Brazil: mathematical modeling and empirical calibration for thermal comfort assessment

This paper presents different thermal comfort models and empirical verification for assessment of the thermal conditions of transitional spaces in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The method adopted is deductive, performing simulations of predictive models, and experimental inductive, considering field research of micro-climatic variables and subjective answers. The thermal comfort predictive models considered were computationally processed. For the empirical verification, two case studies (one, semi-outdoor; the other, semi-indoor) were took into account, with the application of 886 questionnaires in a total of 24 different micro-climatic conditions. The results of the computational simulations were compared to the ones of the empirical field research. Considering the results found, the most appropriated model showed to be the Neutral Operative Temperature. Using the empirical data gathered, this index was calibrated through the proposal of a new equation for even better predictions of thermal comfort in transitional spaces in São Paulo, Brazil.