UHI Vulnerability Assessment Tools
The urban heat island vulnerability methodology, developed in the framework of Be Ready project, contains four tools:
- Exposure of buildings and surroundings, exploring the city built-in environment, the physical aspect of the city, the urbanisation process;
- Sensitivity of equipment and materials, dealing with the properties and conditions of surface materials;
- Vulnerable groups – understanding which groups and individuals are at greatest risk;
- Preparedness and adaptive capacity of the city – is your city future-proofing its climate related policies and practices.
Each tool can be used individually though it is recommended to take a more comprehensive approach. The tools contain concise brief information for each topic. The results allow for comparison with other cities and provide access to good practices and opportunities for guidance from Be Ready project city partners. Please, register and log in to use all the tools. The results of your city become visible on the platform upon review by the platform administrators.
The assessment is intended for municipal servants and experts with access to city policies and data. The platform allows for one assessment per city.
Several aspects are important to identify risks of the city on the UHI, the data, the use of data and level of awareness about UHI in policy making in different sectors (urban planning, social and health sector, etc.). Data are a valuable resource for assessing, but for adaptability and preparedness of cities on the UHI is not enough. It is important for cities to know which data already exist, how to use them and which ones are missing and would be important to start collecting them. Aside that it is important also to identify if the topic of the UHI is present in city policy and decision making.
The assessment uses the traffic light grading categorization, which is easy to understand and reflect on, and empower informed decision-making. Green light indicates solid preparedness and UHI mitigation, yellow light signals areas for improvement and red light -insufficient adaptive capacity and urgency to address UHI effectively.
Do not worry about the score! The aim is not to compete but to get encouraged that we all are going in the same direction and inspire each other to take targeted, context-based measures to deal with UHI in critical urban areas.
Tool 1Exposure of buildings and surroundings
The aim of this assessment tool is to reflect on built-up areas and urbanization processes from the aspect of the UHI negative effects. UHI occurs when urban built-up areas experience higher temperatures compared to their natural surroundings. That means that areas in cities with the highest concentration of built-up areas are the most exposed environments to UHI effects due to the combination of physical and functional factors. The assessment of the tool is based on the identification of data, monitoring and regulating data in policy and decision-making processes in cities.
Tool 2 Sensitivity of equipment and materials
The aim of the assessment tool is to understand the properties and conditions of surface materials and their impact on local heat dynamics. Different materials have varying levels of heat absorption and reflectivity, which influence the overall temperature and comfort in urban areas. Understanding the specific contributors within urban settings is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies.
Tool 3
Vulnerable groups
The aim of the assessment tool is to help raise awareness of the most vulnerable populations including children, elderly persons, individuals with pre-existing health conditions and inhabitants in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, socioeconomic factors often limit access to cooling resources like air conditioning, further increasing the vulnerability of these groups during extreme heat events.UHI effects are not evenly borne by all citizens and climate justice requires urgent protection for those most at risk.
Tool 4
Preparedness and adaptive capacity of the city
The aim of the assessment tool is to evaluate the approaches of local governments to urban heat. The escalating impacts of climate change on built-up urban areas including increasing number of UHIs have a direct connection with the adaptation capacity of the given territories. Climate change impacts are manifest in direct costs to human lives and wellbeing, destruction of assets, and other economic damages, as well as indirectly through impacts on different sectors which can trigger effects on economies, human health, education, and human mobility.