The Site Visit A Day in the Life in Phoenix

Students endeavored to investigate the impact of heat and the built environment on the everyday lives of typical Phoenix residents by immersing themselves in the role of local workers who commute to their jobs. This experiential approach allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals living in Phoenix and how their daily experiences are influenced by the interplay between heat and the surrounding urban infrastructure.

Through their investigation, the students discovered a significant contrast in thermal comfort between shaded and under-shaded streets. This observation emphasized the critical role that tree shade plays in mitigating the effects of heat and enhancing the comfort of pedestrians. Furthermore, the students noted a substantial disparity in tree shade coverage between the central city’s southern and northern areas, which corroborated their previous mapping and analysis findings. This discrepancy in tree shade distribution highlighted the need for targeted interventions and strategies to address the unequal distribution of thermal comfort resources within the city.