Heat Waves: Visualizing Thermal Disparities

Extreme heat is the leading cause of natural disaster-related deaths in the United States, and the problem is expected to worsen as the effects of climate change intensify. Urban environments are particularly vulnerable to the heat, with hotter temperatures in areas with higher concentrations of concrete and asphalt. Underserved populations are disproportionately affected by heat waves, and the growing frequency and intensity of extreme heat pose a significant public health threat. Mitigating the unequal distribution of intense surface temperatures requires a multifaceted approach, including policy, public health, urban planning, and nature-based solutions.

The fourth LAF Research Grant in Honor of Deb Mitchell was awarded to “Heat Waves: Visualizing Thermal Disparities,” an 18-month research project to collect and analyze temperature data for Omaha, Nebraska using commercially available thermal visualization tools in order to evaluate the positive impacts of nature-based solutions on mitigating extreme heat.

In this webinar, the Principal Investigators will share their research process and present their findings. They will also introduce a toolkit for landscape planners and policymakers to make better-informed decisions in designing more just and equitable cities by using thermal visualization tools to show positive design impacts at a level that is more granular and reflective of the lived experience of extreme heat in formerly redlined communities. The research underscores the important role of landscape architects and planners in creating access to shade and sensible microclimates, which should be considered a public health concern and a civic resource shared by all.

Presenters/Principal Investigators:
Keenan Gibbons, PLA, Associate, SmithGroup
Salvador Lindquist, Professor, University of Nebraska