Urban planning with the Space Agency to tackle the heat island effect

Hungarian architecture firm Paulinyi & Partners had signed a contract with ESA (European Space Agency) in late 2023 to enter the “Space for Green Construction” research program. As part of this, planners will use the use of satellite technology to improve their urban planning work, with the intention of using the opportunity to think about more climate-resilient projects. Under the program, Hungarian experts will then use Earth Obsrvation data from satellites to study the phenomenon of urban microclimate and develop solutions to reduce the urban heat island effect (UHI).

The same study had already caused chatter two years ago, thanks to a study on the design possibilities of a lunar base. This project was presented at the 2022 International Astronautical Conference. The IAC study examined plans for a lunar base that could be built on the Moon using the satellite's raw materials, particularly rock adjusted from the surface, taking into account the specific thermal and environmental conditions, as well as logistical and construction challenges.

Through its Space for Green Construction program, Paulinyi & Partners is leveraging advanced simulation tools to improve the energy efficiency of real estate developments using data from space. The company is developing a solution called HeatScape Resolve, which uses satellite imagery to map the Urban Heat Islands effect in order to use this data to improve the effectiveness of existing predictive simulations. While satellite data have proven useful in areas such as agriculture, where EO is used for drought monitoring, their potential in built environments and construction sectors is still untapped. Paulinyi believes that HeatScape Resolve can make an impact by comparing current satellite imagery with simulation results of current conditions. Opening image: Immagine di apertura: Paulinyi & Partners, Láng district, Budapest, Hungary. Courtesy Paulinyi & Partners