Introduction
Our towns and cities are sweltering during the summer. Quickly figuring out how to deal with this issue is very important.
This project developed new techniques using data and modelling to allow communities to better plan for and manage urban heat.
It is the first stage of development for a new online tool called the National Heat Vulnerabilty Observatory (NaHVO). The NaHVO will have standard methods for keeping track of local heat, identifying those most vulnerable to heat and finding the best ways to reduce heat impact. It will do this by making it easier to collect heat and other data and model the impacts of different heat mitigation measures.
NSW is leading the charge, with a pilot to develop the NaHVO and link it to the NSW Digital Twin, which will eventually be able to be used Australia-wide.
Challenge
In Western Sydney, the average temperatures are rising because of climate change. Temperatures have reached a maximum of 48.9°C.
Heatwaves are very dangerous. They cause more deaths in Australia than any other natural disaster. They hit the most vulnerable people in our communities the hardest. Extreme heat increases hospital admissions and places strain on our health system.
When it’s hot, we use more electricity to cool our buildings. This increases our impact on the environment.
Also, long periods of extreme heat can damage our infrastructure and other services. Cities can get even hotter than other places because of the 'heat island’ effect. This happens when hard surfaces like roads hold onto heat and make the temperature rise. In NSW, almost 90% of people live in towns or cities.
Solution
This project is the NSW pilot of a future National Heat Vulnerability Observatory (NaHVO).
The NaHVO will have standard methods for reporting and measuring overheating locally. It will also include modelling tools to compare the effectiveness of different heat mitigations including planning for more greenspace, increase irrigation, installing misting systems and building homes with “cool roofs”.
By establishing consistent processes and modeling, NaHVO will enable collaboration between stakeholders, and support evidence-based decisions for specific locations.
Smart and Cool Places Phase 1 is the first step to developing a digital capability in NSW to increase the state’s resilience to urban overheating. The project informs how this work can be scaled to all communities in NSW.
Expected outcomes
Smart Places outcome areas:
- Health and wellbeing
- Environmental quality
- Social equity
The NaHVO will provide in-depth data and consistent processes for reporting and measuring overheating. It will also including modelling tools to identify place specific opportunities to cool down Australia’s cities. This project has developed the foundations for the NaHVO, with initial pilots in two NSW towns (Dubbo and Maitland).
In Phase 2, this will be expanded to other NSW cities and towns.
NaHVO will provide:
- city/town specific datasets for heat vulnerability that are tailored to specific locales
- state and national datasets to provide the ability to monitor the heat vulnerability of Australian cities
- performance measures and key indicators to establish a consistent methodology for heat-vulnerability assessment and benchmarking
- analytical modelling for city and precincts for analysis of mitigation and adaptation interventions
- data interoperability with the NSW Digital Twin and other urban networks and government data platforms.
Multimedia assets
Resources
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Contact details
Smart and Cool Places in NSW Project Team
Matthew Riley
Director Climate and Atmospheric Science
Media coverage
- Climate Control News, Observatory to tackle rising urban heat crisis, 13 Dec 2023
- ArchitectureAU, New national observatory to monitor urban heat, 12 Dec 2023
- Toorak Times, New national urban heat observatory will help drive more climate-resilient cities, 11 Dec 2023
- News for Business, New national urban heat observatory will help drive more climate-resilient cities, 11 Dec 2023
- My Australian News, New national urban heat observatory will help drive more climate-resilient cities, 11 Dec 2023
- The National Tribune, New national urban heat observatory will help drive more climate-resilient cities, 11 Dec 2023
- Mirage News, National Urban Heat Observatory to Boost Climate-Resilient Cities, 11 Dec 2023
- UNSW News, New national urban heat observatory will help drive more climate-resilient cities, 11 Dec 2023
- UNSW News: Smart and Cool Places project receives $483,000 to go ahead, 14 June 2023
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