Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign
A community project to map extreme heat in Raleigh and Durham!
Did you know? In the United States, heat waves injure more people than all other natural disasters combined.
About the Project
In the summer of 2021, dozens of volunteers rallied to participate in a local citizen science project mapping heat across Raleigh and Durham! (What’s citizen science?)
Citizen Scientists used a variety of apps and sensors to walk, drive, and bike diverse routes to capture critical heat and climate data. This data will be used to develop a high-resolution temperature map of Raleigh and Durham, which will reveal the hottest/coolest parts of the area and the extent of the temperature differences between them. Check out the other areas being studied in 2021!
By understanding where the most extreme temperatures occur, ongoing heat mitigation efforts by nonprofits, urban planners, public health officials, and urban foresters will be able to provide resources to areas of the community that are most vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this project a success!
Project Data
- 1 data collection day
- 2 cities
- 3 shift times
- 4 apps
- 4 types of sensors and devices
- about 24 routes and sites
- at least 130 square miles
- and over 160 volunteer Citizen Scientists!
Stay tuned for updates on the collected heat data and future opportunities to get involved!
#ItsHotYall
Color-coded driving routes in Raleigh
Installing a car sensor for data collection
Installing a bike sensor for data collection
The sunrise, extra orange because of the wildfire!
Distributing devices at the Scrap Exchange
A pair of awesome Citizen Scientists ready to help!
An infrared image showing the impact of a tree on surrounding temperatures at Chavis Park
Distributing devices at John Chavis Memorial Park
Color-coded driving routes in Durham
Collect More Data
Contribute to climate and weather research by sharing what you experience right in your neighborhood with ISeeChange!
Continue your Citizen Science efforts by helping developers beta-test Cozie, a new smartwatch app to examine heat comfort!
Learn More
To learn more about this project and urban heat islands, please visit the main project page at the North Carolina State Climate Office or check out the resources below!
Mini-seminar with Dr. Vivek Shandas, Founder and Director of the Sustaining Urban Places Research Lab
Mini-seminar with Dr. Angel Hsu, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Environment at UNC, and Director of the Data-Driven EnviroLab
- The Power of Maps, ArcGIS
- Sensor Data to Heat Maps: The Analysis Process, CAPA Strategies (2020)
- Houston and Harris County Heat Action Team, (2020)
- Heat Related Illnesses, CDC (2018)
- Extreme Heat, Ready (2021)
- The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health, US Global Change Research Program (2016)
- What’s the Urban Heat Island Effect?, American Forests (2020)
- Learn About Heat Islands, EPA
- Can We Turn Down the Temperature on UHIs?, Yale School of the Environment (2020)
- An Equity-Focused Approach to Urban Heat Resilience, Aspen Global Change Institute (2020)
- People of Color More Exposed to Heat Islands, Study Finds, AP (2021)
- As Rising Heat Bakes US Cities, the Poor Often Teen is Most, NPR (2019)
- The Benefits of Urban Greening, Climate Foresight (2021)
- What’s the 3-30-300 Rule?, Urban Alliance (2021)
- Urban Agriculture, NC State Extension (2020)
Explore other topics related to the Environment, Disaster Relief, Health and Medicine, and how YOU can help over at the Triangle Cause Wiki!
About This Partnership
The 2021 Raleigh and Durham Urban Heat Island Temperature Mapping Campaign is a partnership between the Museum of Life and Science, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Durham County, the City of Raleigh, the State Climate Office of North Carolina, National Weather Service Raleigh Office, and Activate Good. This project is made possible by NOAA and NIHHIS.
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