Smart Trees: Resilience Strategies to Combat Urban Heat Island Effect, Newcastle NSW

The future livability of urban areas will be dictated by thermal performance, as the effects of climate change begin to make themselves apparent in our day to day lives. In order to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures, our cities need to be retrofitted to their new environment. This project identified levels of Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE) experienced across five (5) identified sites in Newcastle's public realm. The temperature data was collected during peak temperature periods in January 2019. This report documents a methodology for using temperature monitoring, which may be conducted manually or by utilising the NCC Smart Pole network. The temperature data recorded from on-site and field based measurement was developed into a series of data visualisations and data spatialisations to interpret and communicate the field conditions with a broad range of audiences. The research team also identified a broad review of mitigation strategies to re-mediate UHIE, and arranged them into a kit of parts to be utilised in consultation with internal and stakeholders. The visualisation techniques and mitigation kit of parts were tested with the Newcastle City Council through three intensive, co-design workshops. In addition to monitoring temperatures in areas about to undergo redevelopment, the researchers recommend the use of smart data loggers to collect data for POE (Post Occupancy Evaluation) in order to monitor UHIE in new developments. As a priority, sites that warrant POEs should be identified by taking into account demographics where populations are deemed more vulnerable, and public areas that are highly populated in peak summer periods.