A New Approach to Monitor and Map Heat Exposure in a Semi-Outdoor Environment: A Football Stadium Case Study in West Texas

The purpose of this research is to compare direct, in situ measurements of air temperatures and relative humidity within a football stadium at high spatial resolutions to those monitored at nearby weather stations. Variables are measured by iButtons, which are small devices that can measure temperature at the location as well as relative humidity in the hydrochron model. There were 10 thermochrons and 10 hydrochrons evenly distributed at various locations within Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas in order to assess both the variations within a semi-outdoor environments, and the thermal comfort of the patrons through heat indices. The focus is to provide a better understanding of how air temperature and relative humidity values vary inside of a semi-outdoor environment based on different locations within the stadium and how variables such as orientation, time of day, and elevation affect experienced temperatures near the field and in the stands. Secondly, results will show how the values differ from the recorded high temperature values at local stations. Variables of interest for analysis within this study are sun exposure, amount of people inside of the stadium, relative humidity, and whether the iButtons are inside of the stadium, or outside in the stands in sun or shade. Information gleaned from this research will provide insight into the varying temperatures of the stadium and give us an understanding into how the differing temperatures affect thermal comfort.