Thermalconditions
Cities experience higher temperatures than rural areas due to the concentration of buildings, lower albedo (solar radiation reflection coefficient), asphalt and concrete surfaces absorbing solar energy, and a shortage of green areas and surface waters. Urban overheating leads to life-threatening health problems, such as heat strokes, increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and a lower quality of life for residents. It also results in higher energy consumption for cooling and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
CITY PROBLEMS
CITY PROBLEMS
Lack of shade on the street
The lack of shade on the street causes the space to heat up to dangerous temperatures on hot days. This makes it difficult to move around on foot, increases the risk of heat stroke, and discourages outdoor activities. A friendly city is a city with a lot of shade.
CITY PROBLEMS
Nighturban heat island
The night urban heat island is a phenomenon in which the city remains hot even after sunset because concrete and asphalt release the heat accumulated during the day for a long time. This makes it difficult for the body to cool down at night, worsens sleep, and increases the risk of health problems, especially in elderly populations. An increase of greenery and water in the urban space helps to limit this effect.
CITY PROBLEMS
Low albedo
Low albedo means that surfaces such as asphalt or a dark roofs absorb most of the solar radiation instead of reflecting it. This causes strong heating of the surroundings, intensifying the urban heat island effect. Bright, light-reflecting materials help to reduce the temperature in the urban space.
used for heating and air conditioning in apartments
Thermal conditions
What CoolCity does
What CoolCity does
Inventories the urban heat island through thermal measurements during the day and night. An analysis of insolation and albedo in the city is carried out.
Calculates thermal indexes in relation to a reference area outside the city. Provides spatial information on the share of heavily sunlit areas.
Identifies places with the most difficult thermal conditions for humans and nature and so-called cool spots, i.e., places of coolness in the city.
Allows modeling the impact of tree planting, unsealing, afforestation of areas, and the introduction of water on the city's thermal conditions. Helps to choose the right places for intervention.
Monitors changes in the intensity of the urban heat island phenomenon during the warming of the atmosphere and the implementation of preventive measures by the city.
Inventories the urban heat island through thermal measurements during the day and night. An analysis of insolation and albedo in the city is carried out.
Calculates thermal indexes in relation to a reference area outside the city. Provides spatial information on the share of heavily sunlit areas.
Identifies places with the most difficult thermal conditions for humans and nature and so-called cool spots, i.e., places of coolness in the city.
Allows modeling the impact of tree planting, unsealing, afforestation of areas, and the introduction of water on the city's thermal conditions. Helps to choose the right places for intervention.
Monitors changes in the intensity of the urban heat island phenomenon during the warming of the atmosphere and the implementation of preventive measures by the city.
Effects for the city
Lowering the temperature in the city and reducing the range of the urban heat island
Reduction of energy consumption for air conditioning
Increasing the safety of residents by reducing the risk of heat strokes and other health problems
Reduction of water demand, e.g., for watering greenery
For us, adaptation to climate change means responding to urban heat islands, drought, and torrential rains. Greenery helps to mitigate these phenomena, but it also suffers from climate change. CoolCity gives us tools that allow us to better manage these challenges and react where the phenomena are most intense and at the same time occur in proximity to the most populated areas.
Monika Pec-Święcicka
Urban Landscape Architect and Deputy Director of the Urban Greenery Management Board
Global insight • Local impact
Check today what CoolCity can do for your city