Study on outdoor thermal comfort on a campus in a subtropical urban area in summer

•Investigate via both questionnaire survey and field measurement.•90% acceptable thermal temperature limit is much higher than Western/middle European scale.•Set up a evaluation index which is suitable for local residents.

Most domestic outdoor thermal comfort evaluation indices were proposed by developed, temperate climate regions in Europe. Therefore, the study developed an evaluation index according to subtropical Guangzhou, China to guide outdoor environment work more accurately. A thermal comfort study was conducted for Guangzhou University campus. Field measurements and a questionnaire survey were used to assess the thermal comfort of subjects. The results showed that 90% acceptable thermal temperature limit is 28.54 °C, which is significantly higher than the western/middle European limits. However, 46.7% of humidity sensation votives are neutral. Finally, a new thermal comfort index model was developed for Guangzhou area.