ARBORIZAÇÃO E CONFORTO TÉRMICO NO ESPAÇO URBANO: ESTUDO DE CASO NAS PRAÇAS PÚBLICAS DE PRESIDENTE PRUDENTE (SP)

Abstract

Presidente Prudente is a city in the State of Sao Paulo with considerable number of green areas (147) but a few numbers of public squares (56). In this city, with 189.000 inhabitants, the lack of recreation space (as green areas and publics squares) is a problem that has been increasing. The existing green areas and publics squares have not substructure or arborization. The paper presented analyzes how arborization process is responsible on the generation of thermic comfort. It is understood that arborization is very important to make better the recreation places in Presidente Prudente, a tropical city that presents high temperatures all year long. The methodology was theoretical reference; research on public organizations, field research and data collect of temperature, relative humidity in the Meteorological Station. It was collected too, temperature and relative humidity in two publics squares selected by botany, altitude and topography characteristics. Readings of temperature and humidity was realized on January 2001 at 10h, 16h, 21h and 22h. The Effective Temperature register (TE) used to analyze thermic comfort was Thom's (1959). Key words: thermic comfort, squares publics, urban vegetation, Presidente Prudente