Project summary
HESTIA – HEat STress Inquiry and Alleviation- is a research project focused on the development of a heat stress assessment framework to predict the benefits that urban redesign strategies (e.g. green infrastructure implementations, urban design modifications), and behavioral changes (e.g. driving vs biking, smart working) can bring along to mitigate heat stress risk. The hypothesis of the project is that the perception of the urban space (e.g. square or street canyon), the commuting patterns, and the pedestrian path preferences, can severely impact heat stress exposure and affect the efficiency of urban greening as a heat mitigation strategy. This project proposes a novel and interdisciplinary research methodology for heat stress vulnerability and risk assessment at the neighborhood scale combining biometeorological monitoring, geospatial analysis, and behavioral modelling coupled with urban climate simulations. Through the development of a coupled urban climate and human activities model with a detailed description of plant physiology and anthropogenic heat emissions, different adaptation measures (green infrastructure, pedestrian behavior, commuting patterns) to reduce heat emissions and exposure will be assessed, and guidance on climate-sensitive design approaches for future urban planning and policies will be proposed.
Period: 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2027
Grant number: 213995
Funding scheme: Weave/Lead Agency
People
- Maider Llaguno (PI), Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
- Gabriele Manoli (PI), EPFL, Switzerland
- Guo-Shiuan Lin (PhD student), EPFL, Switzerland
- Yen-Shuo Huang (PhD student), Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium