GeoSphere Austria (GSA) is currently working on a new urban climate model for Vienna. The aim is to identify heat hotspots in the city at an early stage. A drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera was used for the analysis. 

Alongside severe weather events like last weekend's storms, increasing heat due to climate change is a particular problem for Vienna. To enable early identification of hotspots across the city, GeoSphere Austria has developed an urban climate model in collaboration with the University of Hannover. "A distinctive feature of this model is that it can calculate physical processes at building level for entire cities," said Brigitta Hollosi, Head of the Urban Climate Competence Unit at GeoSphere Austria.

Results accurate to two metres

The difference compared to previous models: "It not only enables the analysis of urban heat stress, it can also be used for a range of questions relating to air quality or pollutant exposure."

Find out everything about the urban climate model at wien.orf.at!