Effect of urban heat islands and noise on working communities in Cairo, Egypt

Worker satisfaction and worker physical and mental well-being when working outside have increased research interest in urban design and the provision of decent work. For decades, urban heat islands (UHI), which are urban areas that are significantly warmer than their surroundings due to human activities, and sound pressure levels have been found to be the most pressing worker challenges. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 8, aims to achieve ‘full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men by 2030’. However, the main problem has been that little urban research has paid any attention to this specific goal. Therefore, this study had two main aims. First, a model was developed that could assist urban planners ensure decent work conditions in outside urban spaces. Second, this study investigated safe and convenient working methods that could improve worker productivity in arid regions. Specifically, based on a case study in Cairo, Egypt, the UHI and noise level tolerances were examined to determine the levels needed to ensure outside worker well-being and productivity, and an observation study was conducted that gathered data on worker conditions in situ. It was found that the heat and noise conditions were not suitable to productive work and that the most significant factors affecting outdoor worker productivity and satisfaction were the environmental conditions. This study can inform urban design and town planning policies on the need to consider outdoor worker conditions, especially in arid areas.