Cycling routes to mitigate heat stress on cyclists in tropical urban environments: an extendable agent-based modeling framework for strategic decision-making and business applications

Abstract

Heat stress is a significant concern for cyclists in tropical urban environments, impacting both their well-being and overall thermal comfort. While extensive research has been conducted globally to mitigate heat stress, particularly in cold climate cities where winter heat stress reduces urban thermal comfort, the focus has largely been on pedestrian thermal comfort. Research on addressing heat stress among cyclists, especially in tropical urban settings, remains limited. The optimization of cycling routes to minimize perceived heat stress and improve thermal comfort is an area that has not been extensively explored. This study addresses these research gaps by introducing a novel and effective methodology utilizing an Agent-Based Model to assist urban cyclists in selecting routes that minimize heat stress. By doing so, the study aims to enhance the thermal comfort of cyclists in tropical cities, contributing to a more sustainable and cyclist-friendly urban environment.