Noticias

New method to manage heat stress in cities

Publicado en
23 de marzo de 2015

Until now, a good method to identify the effects of the Urban Heat Island effect was not available. The Meteorology and Air Quality Group of Wageningen University, together with Witteveen+Bos engineering & consultancy firm and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, have developed a method to provide insight into the risks from heatwaves at the urban district level. For the first time, this creates possibilities to take targeted local measures.

Effects of heat waves are severe

It is known that global warming not only affects nature, but also our daily lives. During heat waves, mortality has been shown to increase, especially among vulnerable groups. For example, the 2003 heat wave in Europe resulted in a total of 45,000 additional deaths. It is also likely that heat waves will increase in number in the coming years, and that they will be more intense and longer lasting. The effect of heat waves is more severe in urban areas than in rural areas. Air pollution also plays a role, because the conditions during heat waves are unfavourable for good air quality. It is therefore crucial to have a reliable method to quantify all the effects of heat waves, so that appropriate measures can be taken. This method has now become available: UCAM (Urban Climate Assessment & Management).

Quantifying heat waves with UCAM

UCAM determines the influence of the urban environment on heat-related health risks. Besides objectively determining these risks, the method also provides guidance on the assessment of their severity. Furthermore, the method provides insight into possible planning-based solutions and their effects. This applies not only to existing built-up areas. The method can also be usefully employed in new construction, so the buildings can be better equipped to alleviate the effects of heat. UCAM has been implemented in an urban district in Ghent, Belgium, but not yet in the Netherlands.

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