A simulation approach to assessing vegetation configuration effects on thermal comfort in cold region pocket parks

Abstract Pocket parks, play a crucial role in enhancing residents’ thermal comfort and promoting ecological sustainability. Despite their significance, thermal comfort in cold-region spaces remains underexplored, especially vegetation impacts. This study investigates the impact of vegetation configuration on cold-region pocket park thermal environments, using Changchun as a case study via field measurements and ENVI-met simulations. Through the integration of Mean Thermal Sensation Vote (MTSV) and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) indices, the study established the thermal comfort range for Changchun during transitional seasons as 16.69–23.63 ℃, with a thermal neutral temperature of 20.16 ℃. The study developed 27 experimental scenarios to analyze vegetation parameters—tree coverage, Leaf Area Density (LAD), and green patterns. Orthogonal design analysis of simulation results identified the hierarchical impact on thermal comfort: tree coverage > LAD > green patterns. The study proposes three optimal vegetation design strategies for cold-region pocket parks: (1) maintain tree coverage above 50% (ideally 70%); (2) select tree species to complement coverage with LAD of 1.2–1.4; (3) adopt tree-grass combined green patterns for green space layouts. This research presents novel insights and practical guidelines for designing vegetation in micro-scale green spaces in cold-region cities, advocating a sustainable model integrating ecological and social well-being.