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Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI)

Climate Information System in Graz

Organisation type
  • Public administration at local level
Use case area
  • Environment
Geographic scope
  • Austria
Domain
  • Environment
  • Governance and implementation

Challenge:

Graz faces significant urban climate challenges such as heat islands, extreme weather events, and deteriorating air quality, exacerbated by climate change. By bringing together an interdisciplinary team from different fields such as climatology, spatial planning, remote sensing, urban water management and the environment, the Graz City set the goal to enhance its ability to cope with these issues through advanced climate modelling and real-time data analysis.

Approach:

The city developed a Climate Information System (KIS) to integrate diverse environmental datasets, including thermal sensors, LiDAR, meteorological stations, and aerial imagery. This standardised data-sharing platform ensures all stakeholders have access to accurate climate information, supporting real-time data processing, predictive modelling, and large-scale analysis. The system considers bioclimate, cold-air streams, and vulnerability analyses, aiding city planners, emergency services, and public health officials in responding to climate-related events. Developed collaboratively with universities, research institutes, and engineering firms, KIS employs advanced technologies like drones with thermal cameras and 3D scanners. A dense network of measurement stations records meteorological variables, identifying heat hotspots and cooling effects. The data aids urban planning, zoning, and infrastructure development, identifying heat islands and fresh air corridors. The KIS portal makes this data public, supporting climate adaptation efforts. Advanced climate models and simulations predict future climate impacts on Graz, using scenarios for 2030 and 2050. The system couples the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with the Town Energy Balance (TEB) model, providing detailed energy balance and climatic conditions. This integrated system offers a comprehensive analysis of climate change impacts on Graz.

Outcomes:

The tool aims to provide insights that can help mitigate the effects of extreme weather, reduce heat-related illnesses, and improve overall air quality in Graz. The resulting system is a dynamic visualisation tool that provides a user-friendly interface for exploring urban climate scenarios. It is used to simulate the impact of different climate variables on the city, helping to inform decision-making in areas such as urban planning, infrastructure development, and public health. Indeed, findings from the data are firmly anchored in planning processes in the city of Graz. Additionally, care is taken to ensure that the data is presented in the KIS portal in a manner that makes it accessible to the public, thus helping to raise awareness about climate-related issues. 

Data Sources:

The data sources include environmental monitoring stations, thermal sensors, LiDAR, aerial imagery, and other climate-related data collection methods. These diverse datasets are integrated into the KIS to provide comprehensive insights into urban climate dynamics. 

Additional Information:

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