Episode 70: Urban Heat Island Data Tool

Technology Today

Southwest Research Institute

Technology

4.8 • 19 Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2024

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When dense concentrations of pavement and buildings replace green spaces, a community risks becoming an urban heat island (UHI). UHI temperatures can be up to 20 degrees higher than surrounding areas, causing heat-related health and safety problems for people in the community. SwRI is working with the city of San Antonio to rapidly identify UHIs and pinpoint areas where people will most benefit from solutions like covered bus stops, water features, green spaces and more. An SwRI-designed tool is integrating and analyzing information from more than 200 sources to strategically combat high temperatures. Listen now as SwRI engineers Shane Siebenaler and Justin Long discuss SwRI’s data fusion tool used to identify areas that most need relief from the scorching summer heat.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Heat waves, heat domes, heat advisories, cities across the U.S. are experiencing the effects of extreme temperatures this summer.
0:08.5	In some areas, record-breaking heat is exacerbated by lack of green space and too much concrete and pavement.
0:15.9	These areas are known as urban heat islands.
0:18.7	On this episode of technology today, we're talking to SWRI engineers
0:23.3	who have developed a new tool to identify urban heat island danger zones, where conditions
0:29.5	put human health and safety at risk.
0:35.4	We live with technology, science, engineering, and the results of innovative research every day.
0:41.4	Now, let's understand it better.
0:43.2	You're listening to the Technology Today podcast presented by Southwest Research Institute.
0:48.7	From deep sea to deep space, we develop solutions to benefit humankind.
0:53.4	Transcript and photos for this episode and all episodes are available at
0:57.2	podcast.swri.org. Share the podcast and hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast platform.
1:04.9	Hello and welcome to technology today. I'm Lisa Benia. This summer has been brutal here in SWRI's home city, San Antonio, Texas.
1:13.6	We've had our share of triple-digit temperatures.
1:16.7	So this is definitely the right place to research ways to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands or UHIs.
1:24.2	They occur with dense concentrations of pavement and buildings which absorb heat and raise
1:30.5	surrounding temperatures. UHI temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees higher than other nearby
1:36.9	locations. During the hot summer months, the temperature spike could be dangerous or even deadly.
1:43.5	Our guest today are SWRI engineers Shane
1:46.6	Siebenaller and Justin Long. In collaboration with the city of San Antonio, they have developed a
1:52.2	comprehensive data analysis tool to help metropolitan areas curb the effects of urban heat
1:58.8	islands for vulnerable populations. Thank you for being here,
	...

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