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Downs N, Butler H, Parisi A, Beckman-Downs M, Igoe D. Optimizing the Seasonal Shade and Ultraviolet Protection of a Suburban Playground by Utilization of the Playground Shade Index. Photochem Photobiol 2023; 99:1483-1492. [PMID: 36789633 DOI: 10.1111/php.13792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The Playground Shade Index (PSI) is introduced as a design metric for assessing the shade and solar ultraviolet (UV) protection provided by eight different cloth weave shade structures currently utilized in public playgrounds across a regional city located in southern Queensland, Australia. The PSI, expressing the ratio of available ambient solar UV exposure relative to the UV exposure received by a shaded 184 m2 playground surface over a whole day in midsummer and midwinter, is used to determine the best design and aspect of all eight existing structures. Unlike subjective shade audits that may only consider the type of shade structure, the number and characteristics of surrounding trees, and surface materials available at a given site, the PSI considers, in addition to previous factors, the available sky fraction and the direct solar UV contribution underneath the shade structure over a full day. By considering the in situ UV protection characteristics of the shade structure, the PSI has demonstrated its value as a robust design metric. Of the eight shade structure styles examined, this research presents the most likely structure best suited for UV protection over the two solar UV extremes in summer and winter, including optimal structure aspect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Downs
- Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
| | - Harry Butler
- Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
| | - Alfio Parisi
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
| | - Melanie Beckman-Downs
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
| | - Damien Igoe
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
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Downs N, Raj N, Vanos J, Parisi AV, Butler H, Deo R, Igoe D, Dexter B, Beckman-Downs M, Turner J, Dekeyser S. The Playground Shade Index: A New Design Metric for Measuring Shade and Seasonal Ultraviolet Protection Characteristics of Parks and Playgrounds. Photochem Photobiol 2023; 99:1193-1207. [PMID: 36403206 DOI: 10.1111/php.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Current shading strategies used to protect outdoor playgrounds from harmful solar radiation include the placement of artificial cloth weaves or permanent roofing over a playground site, planting trees in proximity to playground equipment, and using vegetation or surface texture variations to cool playground surfaces. How and where an artificial shade structure is placed or a tree is planted to maximize the shade protection over specific playground areas, requires careful assessment of local seasonal sun exposure patterns. The Playground Shade Index (PSI) is introduced here as a design metric to enable shade and solar ultraviolet exposure patterns to be derived in an outdoor space using conventional aerial views of suburban park maps. The implementation of the PSI is demonstrated by incorporating a machine learning design tool to classify the position of trees from an aerial image, thus enabling the mapping of seasonal shade and ultraviolet exposure patterns within an existing 7180 m2 parkland. This is achieved by modeling the relative position of the sun with respect to nearby buildings, shade structures, and the identified evergreen and deciduous tree species surrounding an outdoor playground.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Downs
- Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Nawin Raj
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Jennifer Vanos
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
| | - Alfio V Parisi
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Harry Butler
- Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Ravinesh Deo
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Damien Igoe
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Benjamin Dexter
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Melanie Beckman-Downs
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Joanna Turner
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
| | - Stijn Dekeyser
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia
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Deng Y, Zhang C, Zheng Y, Li R, Hua H, Lu Y, Gurram N, Chen R, OuYang N, Zhang S, Liu Y, Hu L. Effect of Protective Measures on Eye Exposure to Solar Ultraviolet Radiation. Photochem Photobiol 2020; 97:205-212. [PMID: 32875566 DOI: 10.1111/php.13327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In this study, ocular biologically effective exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVBE) is investigated with six kinds of sun protective measures (spectacle lenses, sunglasses, cap, bonnet, straw hat and under parasol). Ocular UV exposure measurements were performed on manikins during the summer period in Shenyang city (41.64° N, 123.50° E, 66 m a.s.l.), China. The measurements include the ocular UV exposure of an unprotected eye and the ambient UV as a control concurrently. Based on the relative spectral weighting factors of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the ocular biologically effective UV is calculated and compared with the 8-h exposure limits of ICNIRP (30 J m-2 ). The UV index (UVI) of the measurement days is 0-8, and the 8-h (8:00-16:00 China Standard Time, CST) cumulated UVBE of the unprotected eye is 452.0 J m-2 . The 8-h cumulated UVBE of the eye with spectacle lenses, sunglasses, cap, bonnet, straw hat and under parasol are 364.2, 69.1, 51.4, 49.0, 56.8 and 110.2 J m-2 , respectively. Importantly, it should be noted that the eye could be exposed to risk despite protective measures. The 8-h cumulated UVBE of the eye with protection is ca 1.6-15.1 times the exposure limit, respectively. As indicated in the present study, during summer months, high exposure to the sun for more than 30 min without eye protection and more than 1 h with eye protection is not advisable. The protection measures could effectively reduce the UVBE reaching the eye, yet there is still a high degree of risk when compared with the ICNIRP 8-h exposure limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Deng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Rui Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Hua
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingjie Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Namratha Gurram
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY
| | - Rentong Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - NanNing OuYang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Health Inspection and Supervision Institute of Guangzhou Railway Bureau, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shumin Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liwen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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