/ URBAN HEAT ISLAND MONITORING
“Precise insight into urban heat stress, data-driven support for better decisions.”
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Densely built-up urban areas often heat up more than green areas and the city’s surroundings, owing to the predominance of concrete, asphalt and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. This phenomenon is known as the urban heat island. Higher temperatures increase heat stress on residents, affect their quality of life and raise the cooling demand of buildings. The elderly, children, people with chronic illnesses and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are particularly exposed.
Envirodual offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring the urban heat island that combines a network of temperature and relative humidity sensors, automatic data transfer and processing, and an interactive digital platform. The sensors are installed at strategically selected locations that represent the city’s different characteristics – from densely built-up, high-traffic areas to parks, residential neighbourhoods and reference sites on the urban outskirts.
The measurements enable real-time mapping of air temperature and display of urban heat island intensity. Intensity is expressed as the temperature difference between an individual urban location and a selected reference location or the temperature background. The digital platform thus makes it possible to quickly identify the most heat-stressed areas, track changes over time and plan data-driven measures to reduce heat in the city.
The core functionalities of the urban heat island monitoring system include:
Real-time measurements: Sensors continuously measure air temperature and relative humidity and automatically transmit the data to a central digital platform.
Strategically designed measurement network: Sensor locations are chosen based on building density, land use, share of green space, traffic load, terrain and other characteristics of the urban environment.
Calculation of urban heat island intensity: The system automatically calculates the temperature difference between individual urban locations and the selected reference temperature background.
City temperature map: Measurements are displayed on an interactive map with a colour scale, providing a quick overview of the spatial distribution of temperature and making it easy to identify hot and cooler areas.
Multiple data views: Users can switch between displays of air temperature, relative humidity and urban heat island intensity.
Detailed measurement site data: For each sensor, the platform shows its location, ID, current temperature, relative humidity, heat island intensity and the time of the last measurement.
Sensor status monitoring: The platform enables monitoring of the measuring equipment’s condition and timely detection of missing or erroneous data.
Data archiving and analysis: Long-term data collection enables analysis of daily and seasonal changes, comparison of different periods and monitoring of how the urban heat island develops under different weather conditions.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The urban heat island monitoring system is highly versatile in urban space management and climate change adaptation:
Monitoring thermal conditions in the city: A real-time overview of temperature and humidity at different locations enables quick identification of areas with the highest heat stress.
Planning climate measures: The data support decisions on the placement of trees, parks, green roofs, water features, shading elements and other urban cooling solutions.
Urban and spatial planning: Temperature maps help in planning new neighbourhoods, renovating public spaces and siting infrastructure in ways that reduce overheating.
Protecting public health: The data make it possible to identify areas of increased exposure and support the preparation of heatwave action plans.
Protecting vulnerable groups: Particular attention can be paid to the surroundings of schools, kindergartens, health centres, care homes for the elderly and other facilities with sensitive users.
Supporting local policies: The results provide a sound and transparent data basis for climate strategies and action plans, and for tracking progress towards set targets.
Public information: A publicly accessible platform brings the urban heat island issue closer to residents and helps them better understand current conditions in their surroundings.
FUNCTIONALITIES
Establishing an urban measurement network for continuous monitoring of temperature and relative humidity.
Identifying the hottest streets, squares, car parks, industrial zones and densely built-up residential neighbourhoods.
Comparing temperatures between the city centre, green spaces and reference locations on the urban outskirts.
Monitoring thermal conditions around schools, kindergartens, hospitals and care homes for the elderly.
Operational monitoring of conditions during heatwaves and directing residents towards cooler parts of the city.
Preparing expert groundwork for municipal climate strategies, spatial plans and investments in green infrastructure.