Urban Heat and Public Health: Using EO and GeoAI to Make Cities for Sustainable Against Rising Temperatures

Ajay K Gupta is the co-founder & CEO of HSR.health. Ajay also chairs the Health Domain Working Group of the Open Geospatial Consortium, co-chairs the Healthcare Infrastructure Small Work Group of the GEOHealth Community of Practice, and is the board chair for Holy Cross Health. He is active on LinkedIn and you can  learn more about HSR.health sat AWS Marketplace. 

For centuries, people have flocked to cities in search of better opportunities, improved quality of life, and access to services. Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and that number is projected to continue growing. However, the very infrastructure that has long supported urban life—dense buildings, roads, and limited green space—is now contributing to a growing crisis as cities face the impacts of climate change.

Rising global temperatures, driven by climate change, are making life in cities increasingly difficult, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. The urban heat island effect—where urban areas are significantly hotter than surrounding rural areas—poses serious threats to public health. As more people migrate to cities, the challenges of maintaining a livable environment are compounded by extreme heat events.

Yet, emerging technologies offer hope. By harnessing the power of advanced AI and geospatial data, cities can better understand and anticipate the risks of extreme heat, allowing them to implement proactive solutions that protect public health and maintain the quality of life for urban residents. Tools like the Urban Heat-Health Risk Index are at the forefront of this effort, providing cities with real-time insights into the most at-risk populations and helping them plan for heat-related emergencies and long-term sustainability.

How Heat Affects Health Outcomes

Prolonged heat exposure leads to severe health issues like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, increased mental health issues, cardiovascular problems, respiratory challenges, and worsened chronic conditions, especially for vulnerable populations such as the socioeconomically disadvantaged or those in areas with limited green space.

In dense urban areas, high-rise residents face heightened risks. Upper floors of taller buildings experience more heat due to longer solar exposure and challenges in cooling air and water. Most heat risk assessments do not account for this heightened vulnerability, leaving a gap in urban heat management strategies.

Anticipating Risks with Data

To address heat, cities must anticipate risks and identify vulnerable populations, preparing for increased hospitalizations and emergency responses while preventing crises through early interventions.

This is where data plays a critical role. Tools like the Urban Heat-Health Risk Index, developed by HSR.health, help cities predict heat-related health risks by integrating a wide range of data sources. By leveraging satellite data, this index can provide insights into factors like solar exposure, land cover, and other elements that influence both temperature and “felt heat.” This real-time data allows decision-makers to pinpoint areas of highest risk and allocate resources more efficiently.

The Role of Satellite Data

Satellite data is essential for understanding the environmental variables that contribute to urban heat. These datasets provide detailed information on solar radiation, land surface temperatures, and vegetation cover, all of which impact local temperatures and heat exposure.

Satellite imagery reveals differences in solar exposure and land cover, such as trees that offer natural shade and cooling, identifying “hot spots” with the highest heat-related illness risks. These insights help cities make informed decisions on cooling resources and public health interventions.

Mitigating Heat with Sustainable Solutions

Cooling centers provide a short-term fix, but cities need long-term sustainable solutions to improve resilience. These can include:

• Green roofs and increased vegetation: These solutions help lower temperatures by absorbing less heat and increasing shade.
• Advanced building materials: New materials that reflect rather than absorb heat can significantly reduce indoor temperatures.
• Improved HVAC systems: Upgrading air conditioning systems to provide better cooling at lower energy costs can reduce the strain on power grids during heat waves.

Such interventions not only help reduce heat risks but also contribute to the broader goal of sustainable urban development.

Preparing for a Hotter Future

The challenges of urban heat will rise with global temperatures. To protect public health, cities must adopt a proactive, data-driven approach to managing the exposure. The Urban Heat-Health Risk Index is a powerful tool that enables cities to understand and mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat, ensuring that vulnerable populations are protected, and resources are allocated where they are needed most.

More efficient and effective response to heat is not the only benefit, the technologies and satellite data at the core of the Urban Heat-Health Risk Index will aid the long-term sustainability of urban planning practices and cities overall – allowing cities to not only respond to today’s health risks but also build resilience for the future.

Date Published: November 25th, 2024