H2020ReSET: Using a Low-Cost Urban Microclimate Monitoring Network to Evaluate Potential Green Investments for Urban Heat Management in Bologna, Italy

ReSET (Restarting Economy in Support of Environment, through Technology) is an H2020 research and development (EIC) project focused on future and emerging technologies (FET) in environmental intelligence. As part of ReSET, we are developing and deploying distributed networks of in-field sensors to monitor urban and peri-urban microclimate around Bologna, Italy, in order to assess the potential of green investments for mitigating the human heat stress impact of urban heatwaves. A monitoring plan has been developed that uses a space-for-time approach by deploying monitoring in existing green and non-green areas that are representative of areas where green investments will be considered by the local municipality. The monitoring is focused on three urban typologies: urban with buildings, urban-open and peri-urban. Within each of which a “green” area and a “non-green” area is being monitored, which are similar in character except the amount of vegetation. We are using microclimate sensor networks built from designs published at FreeStation.org, which are low-cost, internet-connected environmental sensors and data loggers which provide locally specific evidence for the impact of urban greening investments in different locations and are logging microclimate variables every 10 min at locations across the city. This experiment permits analysis of the effectiveness of previous urban greening investments in helping cool Bologna’s streets. The data could be used to help develop the urban plan for future urban regeneration projects. Urban greening investments have the potential to provide heatwave respite areas and cooler walking routes around the city, but significant effort will be required to reach the level of investment that will be needed.