Seasonal impact of street morphology on outdoor thermal comfort in Huizhou traditional villages: a PET analysis for sustainable rural tourism

With the increasing alignment of rural tourism development with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 focused on sustainable communities, enhancing outdoor thermal comfort in traditional villages has become imperative. Yet, prior research has insufficiently explored the seasonal correlations between street and alley morphology and thermal performance. This study addresses this gap by investigating Xidi Village in Huizhou, where the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) index is innovatively employed to evaluate sustainable microclimate regulation. Through mobile and fixed monitoring, a multiple linear regression model was constructed to quantify the influence of seven morphological parameters, such as aspect ratio and orientation. Winter and summer field measurements demonstrated the model’s statistical significance, identifying context-specific reference ranges for this region – such as an aspect ratio of 3–5 and an orientation of 30°–60°—that seasonally balance PET values. These thresholds serve as adaptable guidelines rather than universal rules. The results provide a quantitative basis for designing street layouts in traditional villages, thereby advancing low-carbon human settlements and supporting sustainable habitat optimization.