Optimizing the Seasonal Shade and Ultraviolet Protection of a Suburban Playground by Utilization of the Playground Shade Index
Article
Article Title | Optimizing the Seasonal Shade and Ultraviolet Protection of a Suburban Playground by Utilization of the Playground Shade Index |
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ERA Journal ID | 15283 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Downs, Nathan, Butler, Harry, Parisi, Alfio, Beckman-Downs, Melanie and Igoe, Damien |
Journal Title | Photochemistry and Photobiology |
Journal Citation | 99 (6), pp. 1483-1492 |
Number of Pages | 10 |
Year | 2023 |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 0031-8655 |
1751-1097 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13792 |
Web Address (URL) | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/php.13792 |
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. |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370199. Atmospheric sciences not elsewhere classified |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing |
Centre for Applied Climate Sciences |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z7598/optimizing-the-seasonal-shade-and-ultraviolet-protection-of-a-suburban-playground-by-utilization-of-the-playground-shade-index
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