Initial Situation / Motivation

The climate crisis demands profound transformations in cities and urban areas. Current planning instruments—especially urban climate analyses—are expensive, static, technically complex, and provide only coarse results without accounting for future developments.

At the same time, the transformation of the building stock is progressing slowly, while increasing heat stress leads to growing health and economic risks. There is a lack of a practical, dynamic tool that enables cities of all sizes to anticipate microclimatic challenges and prioritise measures based on evidence.

Content and Objectives

The project develops a dynamic, AI-supported urban climate analysis map (KLAIR) that visualises citywide microclimate effects in high resolution and realistically simulates future scenarios such as greening, densification or decarbonisation.

The core objectives are:

• comprehensive identification of urban heat islands,
• assessment of the effectiveness of planned adaptation and decarbonisation measures,
• integration of health-related and socioeconomic indicators,
• provision of an accessible, web-based tool for municipalities and planning offices.

This creates a standardisable, scalable decision-support instrument for climate-resilient, healthy and sustainable urban development.

Methodological Approach

The project integrates existing technologies into a unified system:

• Digital Twin: AI-based generation of 3D city models from satellite imagery, building data and cadastral maps.
• Microclimate Simulation: high-resolution modelling (e.g., PALM-4U) and AI models for temperature and airflow dynamics.
• Urban Development Scenarios: analysis of densification, greening, de-sealing and adaptation measures, incorporating growth trends and climate projections.
• Decarbonisation Model: quantification of CO₂ impacts and potentials at building, district and city levels.
• Health Analysis: assessment of heat-related health burdens based on demographic and social criteria, including potential cost savings.
• Interactive Frontend: publicly accessible web interface for visualising the status quo and future scenarios.

Expected Results

The project delivers a novel, parcel-level urban climate analysis for cities of different sizes, generating the following impacts:

• evidence-based, quantitative decision support for climate adaptation, urban planning and decarbonisation,
• visibility of health burdens and vulnerable population groups,
• derivation of concrete, measurable targets (e.g., greening requirements, cooling potentials, changes in energy demand),
• strengthening of sustainable urban development in line with the SDGs (11, 13, 3),
• economic scalability through a standardised analysis tool for the Austrian market.

This results in an impact-oriented governance instrument that enables municipalities to address heat, climate risks and transformation processes more efficiently and more socially equitable.

Project management

Green4Cities GmbH

Project or cooperation partners

• IBO - Österreichisches Institut für Bauen und Ökologie
• Medizinische Universität Wien
• superwien – architecture urbanism
• ubicube GmbH

Green4Cities (Andreas Berger)
Mariahilfer Straße 115/12
Tel.: +43 (676) 3578 139
E-mail: andreas.berger@green4cities.com
Web: www.green4cities.com