Urban comfort and connectivity in hot-climate cities: evaluating public space usability with the UCCI framework in Riyadh
Publication Date
July 31, 2026
Creator
Abstract
Public spaces in hot-climate cities face compounded challenges where extreme thermal exposure, fragmented pedestrian networks, and limited microclimatic adaptation reduce outdoor usability. This thesis develops the Urban Comfort–Connectivity Index (UCCI), an integrated framework that evaluates public-space performance by combining thermal comfort (Universal Thermal Climate Index, UTCI), spatial connectivity (Flipped Betweenness Centrality, FBC), and user perception (Composite Perception Index, CPI). The framework is applied across five major sites in Riyadh to examine how climate, form, and experience interact to shape public-space use.
The environmental modelling was conducted using a geometry-based simulation workflow to estimate UTCI across four representative months. Spatial connectivity was assessed using a network-based FBC metric adjusted for thermal penalties, while user perceptions were collected through on-site surveys. These datasets were normalized, weighted, and integrated to generate UCCI values reflecting combined comfort–connectivity conditions.
Results indicate that thermal stress is the strongest constraint on usability, with UTCI frequently exceeding 40°C in exposed spaces. Regression analysis shows that connectivity (β = 0.66) and perception (β = 0.44) also contribute significantly to perceived usability. Sensitivity testing confirms that the UCCI remains robust under alternative weighting schemes. Among the five sites, the Diplomatic Quarter demonstrates the highest overall performance, while KAFD and Roshn Front show overlapping deficits due to exposure, weak shading, and limited micro-connectivity.
The UCCI offers a structured analytical tool to support climate-responsive urban design; however, its application in planning practice should be considered a recommendation, pending further validation in operational contexts. The study contributes new evidence on thermal behavior, equity, and urban form in Gulf cities and provides pathways for integrating comfort-aware strategies into ongoing development and policy frameworks.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
Faculty of Engineering
eprints ID
82935
UoN Repository URI
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Urban Comfort and Connectivity in Hot Climate Cities Evaluating Public Space Usability with the UCCI Framework in Riyadh Mona Alnimer.pdf
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