Influence of Built Environment on Thermal Comfort: A Systematic Literature Review of Three Decadal Research

Abstract Heat waves are a global phenomenon that necessitates air conditioning to achieve thermal comfort in buildings; however, incorporating appropriate design considerations and high-intervention built-environment strategies can significantly reduce their impact. This paper presents a quantitative meta-analysis using the Overall Ranking Index ORI of data from previous research that identifies and ranks the built-environment factors related to thermal comfort. A systematic Literature review was conducted using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, including 91 peer-reviewed articles selected for the analysis. The results highlighted that building height, building density, and sky view factors are the top influencing factors. The results highlighted that tall, slender buildings, which are sparsely placed (low-density areas) with moderate Sky view factors, tend to reduce exposure to solar radiation, thereby improving indoor thermal comfort. The consolidated insights from 91 studies help identify the appropriate influencing factors, which will help real estate stakeholders — including architects, planners, policymakers, and other decision-makers — consider them in designing and constructing thermally comfortable buildings.