UCAM

URBAN CLIMATE

ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT

- URBAN HEAT -

PRODUCT INFO

Introduction

Most urban areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. This phenomena is called the ‘urban heat island (UHI)’. The UHI leads

to an increased exposure to heat which can be dangerous, especially during heat waves. Exposure to heat can induce heat stress, heat-related

diseases and premature mortality. Due to climate change and urbanisation the risk of urban heat islands will increase.

As the built environment influences the UHI, the UHI varies for each neighbourhood. Therefore, with spatial planning of urban areas the extent

of the risk in a neighbourhood, caused by the UHI, can be managed. If the risk is too high (unacceptable), it is important to know which adaptive

measures are effective to reduce the UHI and to what extent they should be implemented.

UCAM-method

In collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) and Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR)

Witteveen+Bos developed the UCAM method: Urban Climate Assessment & Management. This method quantifies the influence of a

neighbourhood on heat related health risks by means of a standardised calculation method. Moreover, UCAM assesses the extent of the health

risk and shows if this is acceptable or not. Adaptive measures to mitigate the UHI can be quantified with the standardised calculation method.

The UCAM-method is easily applicable and based on scientific knowledge. The method is divided into three parts:

1. UC (Urban Climate)

• Establishment of neighbourhood characteristics relevant for heat

• Application of the UCAM-method to determine the UHI and the heat-related health risks

• Determination and assessment of the heat-index

2. A (Assessment)

• Possible establishment of the UHI reduction

• Determination of possible adaptive measures

• Determination of spatial feasibility

3. M (Management)

• Management and policy towards realization of the adaptive measures

• General cost estimation

UC - URBAN CLIMATE

Urban Climate in terms of:

• Daily averaged UHI

• Heat-index (related to health risks)

• Number of warm nights

• Air quality during heat waves

28 ,5

27 ,5

26 ,5

25 ,5

24 ,5

UHI

rurale temperatuur

23 ,5

22 ,5

21 ,5

LCZ2 LCZ3 LCZcontL CZ5L CZ6

Categorie 24h average

UHI (⁰C) Description

0. 0-1 comfortable

I. 1-2 acceptable

II. 2-3 high-risk

III. >3 unacceptable

Climate scenario

Te

mp

er a

ture

(d

ail

y a

ve

rag

ed

)

A - ASSESSMENT

Assessment by means of:

• Improvement task of urban climate with respect to

vulnerable people

• Influence of physical aspects of urban area

(green, albedo, anthropogenic heat)

• Possibility and effectiveness of adaptive measures

• Contribution of adaptive measures to improvement

task

• Results for adapted urban area: • daily averaged UHI

• Heat-index

• number of warm nights

45 0

40 0

35 0

30 0

25 0

20 0

15 0

10 0

50

0

rural

current situation

adaptive measure

Factors of influence on UHI

gray - green ratio

roof albedo

road albedo

27,5

26 ,5

25 ,5

24 ,5

UHI

rural temperature

wall albedo

anthrop. heat

23 ,5

22 ,5

21,5

current situation adaptive measures

Cumulative 20 yr - Health Risk (rural 91-10 = 100)

M - MANAGEMENT

Management by means of:

• weighing the need and effectiveness of adaptive

measures

• distinction in types of green

• distinction in public and private space

green roofs green parking lots trees along the way

23%

10%

3%

10%

16%

2%

5%

improvement task 1 improvement task 2 improvement task 3

UCAM

Developed by: Co Financed by:

URBAN CLIMATE

ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT

- URBAN HEAT -