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Google has released a new tool that combines AI and satellite imagery to help cities adapt to rising temperatures.
Why it matters: Climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense, and people living in cities are particularly vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect — where buildings, roads and other infrastructure absorb and radiate heat. It’s for this reason that a growing number of cities are appointing chief heat officers, who are tasked with helping municipalities adapt to a warming world.
The latest: Google’s research unit says its interactive tool will help city planners to “understand how to reduce surface temperatures through planting trees or using highly-reflective surfaces, like cool roofs.”
“Quantifiable data is crucial for cities to identify their hottest, most vulnerable communities and prioritise where to implement cooling strategies,” the company said in a statement.
The software uses AI-powered object detection to analyse local characteristics, like how much green space a city has or how well the roofs on buildings reflect sunlight. It enables planners to gauge how effective cooling interventions will be right down to the neighbourhood level, Google says.
The tool is being piloted in 14 US cities.
Miami-Dade county plans to use it to develop policies that incentivise developers to take heat mitigation measures, Google says, adding that Stockton, California, has already used an earlier version of it.
“We hope to partner with more cities in the future to inform their cooling strategies and ultimately create safer, healthier and more sustainable communities.”
