This summer’s heatwaves have brought nearly unbearably warm weather to Hungary. The extreme heat affects cities particularly strongly, where the temperature can be several degrees higher than in green areas. Paulinyi and Partners, as a contracted partner of the European Space Agency (ESA), has been developing HeatScape Resolve, a service which, using satellite Earth observation data, can contribute to creating cooler and more liveable urban areas in the near future with the cooperation of both domestic and international municipalities.
Since the beginning of the project, we have surveyed several municipalities in Hungary, Poland, as well as Italy regarding the measures they are taking to mitigate urban temperatures. The responses indicate that the most obvious solution in the eyes of decision-makers is to increase green surface area alongside planting trees (76%), followed by the retention of rainwater locally (59%). Installing misting systems is also a popular measure, just like building renovations with a focus on supporting energy-efficiency. However, it is clear that municipalities and investors have yet to identify a comprehensive solution that can effectively reduce the negative impacts of climate change at the local level. A total of 17 respondents said that they would find a simulation method useful in helping them tackle the urban heat island effect.
Based on feedback from municipalities, we see genuine interest from urban planners in HeatScape Resolve. Our goal is to work with ESA to develop a detailed solution that can be integrated into urban planning routines as early as in the short term. HeatScape Resolve is a simulation method that uses satellite Earth observation data to assist the development of measures aimed at reducing the urban heat island effect. With this service, we will be able to provide recommendations for reducing heat island effects during the project preparation phase, even at the level of city districts.