ASSESSING THERMAL COMFORT LEVELS IN UTM RECREATIONAL FOREST

Cooling zones & Temperature Regulation and Ecological Benefits

Abstract

The UTM Recreational Forest is a natural reserve forest located in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The forest covers an widely area of 37.5 km². This forest serves as a key recreational space for the UTM community and the surrounding area Johor Bahru residents. It offers opportunities for leisure, outdoor activities, camping, and co-curricular programs, making it an integral part of campus life. The forest's diverse topography, characterized by hilly terrains, valleys, and natural water springs, contributes to its ecological richness, supporting a wide variation of flora and fauna, some of which have thrived for over two decades. Beyond its ecological significance, the UTM Recreational Forest acts as a natural green lung, maintaining environmental balance and enhancing biodiversity within the campus and its vicinity.

While the forest is widely recognized for its recreational and ecological value, the thermal comfort levels within the area remain an understudied aspect. Thermal comfort refers to the satisfaction of individuals with their thermal environment, is influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. Thermal comfort is crucial in ensuring the forest environment is in a stable temperature condition related to forest area. Understanding the thermal conditions within the forest is essential for maintaining ecological sustainability, as temperature plays a critical role in shaping ecosystem processes, biodiversity, and resilience to climate change.

Objective

To capture thermal infrared imagery and assess temperature variations across different zones within the UTM Recreational Forest.
To analyze temperature variations within the recreational forest and visualize cooling zones using GIS techniques.
To apply GIS-based interpolation techniques to analyze air temperature, humidity and surface temperature.
Identify key environmental factors that influence thermal comfort levels.

Problem Statement

Despite its ecological significance, the UTM Recreational Forest faces fragmentation due to campus expansion, threatening its thermal regulatory capacity. Existing research on urban green spaces often overlooks microscale thermal variations influenced by adjacency to buildings, vegetation structure, and diurnal cycles. For instance, while broad correlations between green cover and cooling are established, site-specific factors such as the heat retention of nearby buildings or the cooling efficiency of specific tree species remain understudied. This project will address these gaps by mapping thermal gradients at high resolution and evaluating how different locations (eg;dense and open areas) modulates thermal comfort, providing actionable insights for preserving the forest cooling function.

Find Us

Aras Bawah, Blok F53, Kompleks Bahagian Pengurusan Aset, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310, Skudai, Johor.

Tel: 07 -553 0609

Data Collection

Data Collection using UAV (Drone)

Thermal images captured using drones provide a comprehensive overview of the area and allow for detailed analysis of temperature variations and heat signatures.

Morning Data Collection

The data collected in the early morning offers unique insights into the environmental conditions during the cooler parts of that day. This time frame is crucial for understanding phenomena such as dew formation, temperature gradients, and the behavior of certain species that are more active during these hours. Morning data can also help in assessing the impact of overnight changes on the environment.

Afternoon Data Collection

Data collected during the sunlight hours, particularly in the afternoon, provides critical information on the maximum temperature. This data is essential for studying the effects of air temperature, humidity and land surface temperature. Afternoon data collection helps in understanding the peak activity periods of many biological and environmental processes.

Evening Data Collection

Evening data collection captures the transition period from day to night and offer valuable insights into the cooling process. This data is crucial for understanding the ecological benefits of green cover, such as temperature variations.Evening data also helps in assessing the impact of human activities on the environment during the twilight hours

Analysis : Thermal Covered Area in UTM Recreational Forest

Thermal Analysis

Results In Different Areas with 3 Different Times

Morning Humidity

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Morning Surface Temperature

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Morning Air Temperature

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Afternoon Humidity

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Afternoon Surface Temperature

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Afternoon Air Temperature

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Evening Humidity

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Evening Surface Temperature

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Evening Air Temperature

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Final Output

Our Team

Iman

Leader

As the Project Leader, he leads our team with a strategic approach to task distribution and effective engagement with supervisors and stakeholders. His role is integral in ensuring the smooth development of the project, overseeing the coordination of team efforts.

Akif

Programmer

Our Programmer, is at the forefront of designing the technical foundation of the project. With a focus on creating an efficient and user-friendly system, He's hard work and creativity are foundational to the success of the web-based project.

Ira

GIS Analyst

Our Data Analyst, she contributes to the in-depth analysis of data related to thermal levels to produce a clearer output. Her role is essential on ensuring that the project findings are comprehensive and insightful.

Balqis

Data Analyst

Our GIS Analyst plays a crucial role in conducting detailed analysis of thermal level data to generate more precise results. Her contributions are vital in ensuring the project's findings are thorough and insightful.

Contact Us.

We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us through any of our campuses.

We'd Love to Hear From You

For further inquiries or additional information regarding our project on Assessing Thermal Comfort Levels in UTM Recreational Forest, Feel free to reach out to us. We welcome feedback, suggestions, or any questions you may have.

We are also available for in-person discussions at the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai, 81310 Johor, Malaysia. Your interest and support are greatly appreciated as we work towards understanding and improving thermal comfort in natural recreational spaces. Let’s stay connected!

Get in touch.

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Phone:

Supervisor: Dr. Norhakim Bin Yusof

Email: norhakim@utm.my