Research project UrbEaT
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Description and basic stages of the project
The study looks at how urban development affects on the intensity of urban heat islands - areas with excessive temperatures that are harmful to human health, and how the adverse effects of heat islands can be offset by expanding urban greenery and water reservoirs in Beijing and Warsaw.
Climate change is resulting in an increase in air temperature near the earth's surface, which is particularly acute in urban areas.
Climate change is resulting in an increase in air temperature near the earth's surface, which is particularly acute in urban areas.
Cities are under pressure from rapid development, which accelerates the urban heat island effect. Urban greenery and water bodies can mitigate the heat effect, but due to multiple economic and social pressures, proper planning of green spaces in cities is proving to be a difficult task.
Additionally, cities are still experiencing continued rapid growth, hence it is important to properly plan development and minimize the urban heat island effect.
Additionally, cities are still experiencing continued rapid growth, hence it is important to properly plan development and minimize the urban heat island effect.
The study will examine two cities, Beijing and Warsaw. First, land-use simulations will be performed to detect the spatial and temporal characteristics of urban heat islands in both cities.
On this basis, it will be determined to what extent the impact of urban greenery could be enhanced by water reservoirs in Beijing and Warsaw.
On this basis, it will be determined to what extent the impact of urban greenery could be enhanced by water reservoirs in Beijing and Warsaw.
Next, residents' perceptions of thermal comfort, using an app on their cell phones, will be investigated. This will help determine thermal comfort in areas with different levels of urban greenery during hot weather.
In addition, perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by greenery and water will be analyzed to understand the social determinants of mitigating the urban heat island effect.
In addition, perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by greenery and water will be analyzed to understand the social determinants of mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Following this, simulations on spatial data will be combined with data on perceptions of thermal comfort to develop guidelines on how to level urban heat islands for both cities.
Results of the research project include data sets on air temperature near the surface over Beijing and Warsaw, as well as data analysis and comparisons of thermal conditions in Beijing and Warsaw. Analyses of residents' thermal comfort and their perceptions of urban heat islands will also be collected to understand how this topic is perceived by residents of these cities.
Results of the research project include data sets on air temperature near the surface over Beijing and Warsaw, as well as data analysis and comparisons of thermal conditions in Beijing and Warsaw. Analyses of residents' thermal comfort and their perceptions of urban heat islands will also be collected to understand how this topic is perceived by residents of these cities.
The results will lead to the development of planning solutions allowing heat island mitigation in the future development of both cities.
Proposed solutions will be confronted with stakeholder assessments and will lead to the development of recommendations for urban planning policies in China and Poland.
Proposed solutions will be confronted with stakeholder assessments and will lead to the development of recommendations for urban planning policies in China and Poland.
Funding
National Science Center
Grant number 2023/48/Q/HS4/00147
National Science Center
Grant number 2023/48/Q/HS4/00147
China National Natural Science Foundation
grant no. 42361134582
grant no. 42361134582
