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Written by: Phoebus Panigyrakis

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 20 December 2024

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Introduction

Heat Chronicles (Cròniques de la Calor by its Catalan name) is a new project that appeals to citizen collaboration to identify, in specific neighbourhoods, the urban public spaces — squares, streets, parks, etc. — most exposed to extreme heat in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, and to propose strategies to mitigate its effects. The study aims to cover a wide variety of neighbourhoods with high vulnerability to extreme heat episodes, and to involve the most affected groups, in a way that is unprecedented worldwide.

During the year 2023, the project was ideated by the research group OpenSystems from Universitat de Barcelona. Three pilots were carried out that allowed to optimize the scientific protocol and confirmed the social relevance of the project. During summer 2024, Heat Chronicles was upscaled to 5 neighbourhoods of Barcelona metropolitan area.

Background

Episodes of extreme heat are becoming more frequent and more intense in cities, where the heat island effect accentuates them. As citizens, we must become more aware of the existence of these periods, be able to identify the most vulnerable spaces to heat in our closest urban environment and create inclusive strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme heat. In addition, the heat does not affect us all equally nor do we experience it in the same way everywhere. For this reason, Heat Chronicles involves diverse groups, in terms of age, profiles and places of residence. Their common denominator is that all groups can suffer from heat in a more extreme way.

Concept Development

This new citizen science project is framed into citizen social science, a concept which has been developed by the OpenSystems research group for more than 10 years. Citizen social science is defined as participatory research co-designed and directly driven by citizen groups sharing a social concern. The neighbourhood and its social concerns are at the centre of the research and all stages of the research are nourished by their knowledge.

In Heat Chronicles, the participants are considered as experts due to their knowledge of the public spaces and to their lived experiences during heat waves. That way, the criteria of the participants is prioritized to decide where the temperature measurements and “heat surveys” will be made.

Research Design

During face-to-face workshops, the participants identify the most relevant places in the public space, according to their criteria and in relation to their uses and the heat. Several "heat walks" are then organized where the temperature in these places is measured, as well as the thermal comfort and perception of the neighbours. Finally, the results are interpreted collectively to diagnose the problem more precisely and propose solutions based on scientific evidence.

Social inclusion

During summer 2024, a total of 52 heat walks have been performed, in which 481 persons have participated. The groups of participants stopped in 210 public spaces, where they scored their thermal sensation and comfort.

To be able to engage the neighbours most affected by extreme heat, the project was carried out with the collaboration of thirteen entities, such as public libraries, athenaeums, educational centres, neighbourhood groups and NGOs. Five neighbourhood were investigated: Congrés i els Indians and Sant Pere, Santa Caterina and La Ribera, in Barcelona; the neighbourhoods of Collblanc and Torrassa, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, and the municipalities of Sant Vicenç dels Horts and Montcada i Reixac. These neighbourhood were chosen because of their known vulnerability to extreme heat, that could be assessed through a high vulnerability to climate change index, a high population density and a low average income, among others socioeconomic factors.

The different groups involved included elderly people, such as self-organized groups of women, parents of 0-3 years old kids or youth in an especially difficult situation because of school drop off or family distress.

Conclusions

Heat Chronicles demonstrated the feasibility of performing an upscaled citizen science project on urban heat, while keeping the focus on neighbours’ perception and lived experiences.

The first results are being currently discussed with the participants, but the first important learning is that thermal comfort is correlated with the gender and the age range of the participants, while structural urban factors like sky view factor also play a role. These outcomes advocate in favour of considering the diversity of the neighbours’ needs and perceptions, and especially the ones of the most affected neighbours, while designing a resilient city able to mitigate climate change.

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Written by: Phoebus Panigyrakis

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 14 November 2024

Hits: 138

Introduction

In 2024, the OPUSH Delft team kicked off an exciting Citizen Science project called "Check je plek," bringing kids into the conversation about how urban spaces can better serve their needs. This project, led by TU Delft in partnership with the DOK/OPEN Delft Public Library, local co-design studio Blok 74, and in communication with researchers from Utrecht University, invited children to share their thoughts on Delft’s city spaces and even help redesign their library.

Background

Delft OPUSH partners TU Delft and DOK, the local public library, are both interested to establishing a long-term cooperation on citizen science experimentation. After initial discussions, both parties agreed on a shared pilot project: redesigning the library space based on the needs and preferences of its young users, specifically children aged 7 to 12.

Concept Development

The project’s concept came from a similar experiment at the University Museum Utrecht, where researchers Kathrine C.E. van den Bogert and Gijs van Campenhout wanted to see how kids viewed and valued urban spaces (see here). Initially, OPUSH Delft had a different idea — a nature-monitoring project where kids would track local wildlife. But after talking with potential partners and looking at the community’s needs, they pivoted to urban spaces. Kids, they realized, have a lot to say about the places they play, study, and hang out, and including them in the conversation could offer new insights. Plus, with a library renovation in the works, it was the perfect time to ask children to share their vision for this public space.

Research Design

The project combined data collection with hands-on, creative design activities. First, kids mapped their favorite places in Delft, explaining why they loved these spots. This mapping helped identify what kids value in public spaces. For the library redesign, the team used brainstorming, mapping, and sketching activities, giving the kids tools to express their ideas. This participatory approach not only gathered data but helped the children feel like co-creators in reimagining their environment. Throughout the project, the team learned that a balance of structured tasks and open-ended creativity allowed the children to really engage and express themselves.

Workshop Activities

The workshop involved a group of "DOK designers," kids aged 7-12 who meet regularly at the library. During the sessions, they pointed their favorite spots in the city and shared what makes these places special, whether this was a play area or a quiet park. This activity got the kids discussing about what they want from public spaces, opening up a discussion on urban design in a way they could relate to.

Next, their attention was turned to the library itself, specifically the floor area where they themselves meet regularly. Working in two groups, the kids mapped out ideas for how the library could be more welcoming, fun, and functional — a space that supports studying, playing, and hanging out. Under the guidance of Blok 74, they drew layouts and brainstormed features they thought would be useful, which TU Delft researchers later transformed into visual designs. A key lesson here was that kids had thoughtful, practical ideas, that should be recorded and taken into account by the professional designers.

Conclusions

"Check je plek" showed just how valuable it can be to include kids in urban planning. They gave fresh, honest insights on what they want from public spaces, and the library project helped them feel connected to their city in a new way. Going forward, DOK Delft has a new model for engaging the community in Citizen Science, and this project opened up possibilities for more kid-led initiatives.

The main takeaway? Kids aren’t passive users of public spaces — they’re creative, insightful contributors. "Check je plek" proved that giving young people a voice in city planning can lead to designs that are fun, functional, and full of heart. It’s a lesson worth keeping in mind as Delft and other cities think about how to make urban spaces that truly serve everyone.

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Written by: Phoebus Panigyrakis

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 15 October 2024

Hits: 139

The last session of Heat Chronicles campaign was held on July, 12th in the Casal de Barri Congrés – Indians with the group of neighbors who went for a walk the week before. The data from their journey were analysed, together with the data from the other two participating groups. The experiences of the neighbors, some of whom have lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, helped contextualize the observations. During the summer campaign of 2024, 52 heat walks were held with 481 participants from 5 different neighborhoods. 

Details

Written by: Phoebus Panigyrakis

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 15 October 2024

Hits: 148

“Microscale urban heat mapping: building upon the neighbour’s experiences and perceptions” was the title of the oral presentation in European Citizen Science Association held in Vienna and which brought together more than 400 citizen science practitioners. The presentation is available at Zenodo and dealt with the local urban heat experimentation in Barcelona.

A poster entitled "Urban Heat Stories: a chatbot for micro-stories on urban heat in Vienna" was also presented, exemplifying the participative research done in Vienna.