Granular temperature maps for cooler cities

A company has developed a platform that provides analytics on temperature and humidity down to one square metre

Spotted: The urban ‘heat island’ effect occurs when natural land cover is replaced with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. This increases temperatures, energy costs, air pollution, and the level of heat-related illness. As the world heats up, and as cities increase in size, this effect is set to worsen. Cleantech startup FortyGuard aims to provide hyperlocal mobile sensing data analysis which could help planners to reduce the heat island effect and improve conditions within cities.

Most data on heat comes from satellites, and does not provide enough detail to make granular changes. However, FortyGuard collects data from a mixture of local and global sources. The company uses this to provide analytics about temperatures down to the level of a single square metre. The insights can then be used to guide designers, engineers, and contractors as they attempt to make cities cooler.

FortyGuard also provides automated and customised artificial intelligence (AI) visuals on an interactive dashboard. This can be integrated with geographic information system (GIS) and 3D-mapping data. For example, the company’s insights have been applied to the design of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, reducing urban temperature by around 10 degrees Celsius compared to other cities in the region.

There are many other companies aiming to mitigate urban heat. Springwise has spotted a social enterprise in Spain that is working to install green roofs, and an urban reforestation project.

Written By: Lisa Magloff