2021
Peng, Y.; Feng, T.; Timmermans, H. J. P.
Heterogeneity in outdoor comfort assessment in urban public spaces Journal Article
In: Science of the Total Environment, vol. 790, 2021, ISSN: 18791026.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Heterogeneity, Latent class path model, Outdoor comfort, Urban public space
@article{Peng2021,
title = {Heterogeneity in outdoor comfort assessment in urban public spaces},
author = {Y. Peng and T. Feng and H. J. P. Timmermans},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147941},
issn = {18791026},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Science of the Total Environment},
volume = {790},
abstract = {The assessment of outdoor comfort can provide valuable insights into the quality of urban public spaces. Rational indices based on the heat-balance model have been extensively used for assessing thermal comfort in various outdoor environments for a long time. However, a growing body of literature is arguing the theoretical limitations of rational indices, including the lack of contextual considerations and the non-consideration of the active role of human being. Furthermore, the well-documented inconsistency in previous investigations suggests individuals' heterogeneous thermal expectations, preferences and adaptations typically depend on person-related and place-related contexts. Nevertheless, the study of heterogeneity in comfort assessment remains fragmentary. In an attempt to incorporate heterogeneity into a comprehensive conceptual framework of outdoor comfort, this study develops a latent class path model based on empirical data of 701 respondents from Eindhoven, the Netherlands. We identified two latent classes associated with different causal structures underlying the assessment of outdoor comfort. Meanwhile, the membership of latent classes is identified based on respondents' socio-demographic and behavioral covariates. The results show that, with respect to the influence on comfort assessment, the exogenous and endogenous variables are varying in effectiveness and strength between the two latent classes. Latent class 1 assesses the outdoor comfort mainly based on thermal sensation and expectations of thermal and wind conditions, whereas latent class 2 comprehensively considered both thermal and non-thermal influences, especially, the psychological acceptability and need satisfaction of outdoor activity. Our findings suggest that, in addition to the expanded framework of outdoor comfort study, understanding the heterogeneity in respondents' comfort perception is needed to comprehensively address the approaches to archive the comfortable urban public spaces in design, planning and management practices.},
keywords = {Heterogeneity, Latent class path model, Outdoor comfort, Urban public space},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The assessment of outdoor comfort can provide valuable insights into the quality of urban public spaces. Rational indices based on the heat-balance model have been extensively used for assessing thermal comfort in various outdoor environments for a long time. However, a growing body of literature is arguing the theoretical limitations of rational indices, including the lack of contextual considerations and the non-consideration of the active role of human being. Furthermore, the well-documented inconsistency in previous investigations suggests individuals’ heterogeneous thermal expectations, preferences and adaptations typically depend on person-related and place-related contexts. Nevertheless, the study of heterogeneity in comfort assessment remains fragmentary. In an attempt to incorporate heterogeneity into a comprehensive conceptual framework of outdoor comfort, this study develops a latent class path model based on empirical data of 701 respondents from Eindhoven, the Netherlands. We identified two latent classes associated with different causal structures underlying the assessment of outdoor comfort. Meanwhile, the membership of latent classes is identified based on respondents’ socio-demographic and behavioral covariates. The results show that, with respect to the influence on comfort assessment, the exogenous and endogenous variables are varying in effectiveness and strength between the two latent classes. Latent class 1 assesses the outdoor comfort mainly based on thermal sensation and expectations of thermal and wind conditions, whereas latent class 2 comprehensively considered both thermal and non-thermal influences, especially, the psychological acceptability and need satisfaction of outdoor activity. Our findings suggest that, in addition to the expanded framework of outdoor comfort study, understanding the heterogeneity in respondents’ comfort perception is needed to comprehensively address the approaches to archive the comfortable urban public spaces in design, planning and management practices.
2020
Jiang, W.; Feng, T.; Timmermans, H. J. P.
Latent class path model of intention to move house Journal Article
In: Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, vol. 70, 2020, ISSN: 00380121.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Intention to move house, Latent class path model, Residential satisfaction, Unobserved heterogeneity
@article{Jiang2020,
title = {Latent class path model of intention to move house},
author = {W. Jiang and T. Feng and H. J. P. Timmermans},
doi = {10.1016/j.seps.2019.100743},
issn = {00380121},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Socio-Economic Planning Sciences},
volume = {70},
abstract = {This paper proposes a latent class path model to analyse the intention to move house as a function of residential satisfaction, which in turn is influenced by the gap between residential aspirations and reality. Different from the existing literature, which assumes the same structural dependencies apply to all residents with different socio-demographic profiles, we allow for different unobserved classes with different structural dependencies. Class membership is a function of the socio-demographics of individuals. Using data from eight renovated historical blocks in two Chinese cities, the differences influencing the intention to move house between two latent classes are captured. In one class the intention to move is significantly influenced by housing and environmental satisfaction, but this dependency is not found in the other class. The impact of the residential gap on satisfaction also differs between the two classes. Class membership is found to be mainly attributed to having property rights or not and whether respondents are supporting the elderly. Policy and planning implications are provided considering the different residential interests and backgrounds of residents.},
keywords = {Intention to move house, Latent class path model, Residential satisfaction, Unobserved heterogeneity},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper proposes a latent class path model to analyse the intention to move house as a function of residential satisfaction, which in turn is influenced by the gap between residential aspirations and reality. Different from the existing literature, which assumes the same structural dependencies apply to all residents with different socio-demographic profiles, we allow for different unobserved classes with different structural dependencies. Class membership is a function of the socio-demographics of individuals. Using data from eight renovated historical blocks in two Chinese cities, the differences influencing the intention to move house between two latent classes are captured. In one class the intention to move is significantly influenced by housing and environmental satisfaction, but this dependency is not found in the other class. The impact of the residential gap on satisfaction also differs between the two classes. Class membership is found to be mainly attributed to having property rights or not and whether respondents are supporting the elderly. Policy and planning implications are provided considering the different residential interests and backgrounds of residents.