Urban Climate Strategies Against Future Heat Stress Conditions

Recent climate change studies predict an increase of temperature in Central Europe. These conditions - intensified by the urban heat island effect - are expected to have consequences on the quality of human life in urban areas in the future. Urban design must respond to these changes in the urban climate and, by following the precautionary principle, must ensure that in the future thermal stress for people outdoors and indoors is reduced to a tolerable degree. The application-related basics needed for this have been developed by an interdisciplinary team from the fields of urban climatology, urban development and geoinformatics. This project aims to develop strategies and concepts for urban planning to mitigate the impacts of climate extremes on the well-being and health of city residents. In experimental analyses, surveys and simulations on the thermal comfort of people, and draft modules suitable for practical application in urban planning adapted to the climate, have been developed and summarised in a manual. Urban quarters in Germany, Brazil and Hong Kong have been selected as examinations sites.