Altitude, climate variables and people’s length of stay in Ecuador squares

Abstract The time people spend in public space is also considered an indicator of their quality. In fact, facilitating people interaction, environment observation and processing of visual impressions it is a crucial dimension. In this sense, the present study applies the descriptive method to understand the incidence of altitude and climatic variables (dry-bilb temperature, wind speed, relative humidity) over the time people spend in two central squares of the Ecuador with similar functional characteristics, located at 2,575.00 and 37.54 meters above sea level. The results show that the people’s maximum length of stay in the squares is recorded when the climatic variables are within the comfort zone; however, it is not a constant that is repeated in the two places of study, which seems to depend on other factors. Variables such as altitude and length of stay in the squares showed a partial correspondence, with people remaining three hours, which is the maximum time identified in this study, in the place located at a lower altitude.