Authored by Georgia Nikolakopoulou , Dissemination & Communication Leader, UrbanAIR Project Dissemination & Communication Manager, Future Needs . Finding one's professional path in the scientific field still presents more hurdles for women than for men. Global statistics on female representation across science sectors confirm this - as does my personal journey as an architect and science communicator. Although women make up half the European population, their representation

Heat events are becoming hotter, longer, and more frequent. Cities need to prepare for extreme heat. But what does extreme heat mean to the people? Take the Heat Scenario Survey 

Discussing perspectives, collaboration and challenges. We are pleased to announce that Nele Veldeman , Senior Researcher at VITO and a key contributor to the UrbanAIR project , will represent our consortium at the upcoming TerraDT webinar: "TerraDT One Year On: Main Achievements in Climate Digital Twins." The TerraDT first annual webinar will offer an accessible overview of how TerraDT is contributing to advanced Earth system modelling via digital twin components and impact

What counts as "extreme" heat? Is it a policy threshold, or the moment a resident can no longer breathe safely? At UrbanAIR WP5, we’re bridging the gap between hazard simulation and lived experience. From mapping resident perceptions in Barcelona and Antwerp to using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in stakeholder workshops, explore how we are building digital twins that reflect human reality, not just sensor data.

The UrbanAIR consortium gathered in London to advance the development of its urban digital twin for air quality and heat resilience. Hosted by Imperial College London, partners from TU Delft, BSC, VITO, and KNMI refined core "User Journeys" and behavioral models. The assembly, led by Femke Vossepoel and Maarten van Reeuwijk, concluded with a visit to STFC Harwell Campus, anchoring the project’s digital prototypes in world-class atmospheric science.

Join the UrbanAIR project at the WeatherGenerator Dissemination Workshop in Oslo. Represented by Prof. Dr. Angela Meyer (BFH), we explore synergies between global foundation models and urban digital twins under the Horizon Europe Destination Earth initiative. Learn how our sister project collaboration with WeatherGenerator and TerraDT is advancing air quality and heat resilience for cities. Register now for the 2026 outlook.

The New EU Directive, Public Health and Vulnerability, and What This Means for UrbanAIR in Barcelona   Alvaro Criado (left), Cristina Cernerero (middle), Florence Gignac (right) at the Air Quality Congress in Sabadell On the 16th and 17th of October, Florence Gignac ,   Cristina Carnerero ,   Álvaro Criado , and   Jan Mateu   from   Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) , were actively involved in the 2025   Air Quality Congress   at the Fira Sabadell. The Congress is a

The UrbanAIR project was recently represented at the prestigious 10th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise , where our project partner, Aulia Sukma   from TU Delft , shared key insights into behavioural modelling for climate adaptation. The conference, known for convening experts focused on social enterprise and sustainability, provided an excellent platform to disseminate UrbanAir's innovative approaches. Presenting Cutting-Edge Research on Urban Heat

UrbanAIR is one of the three projects launched in January and February 2025 under Horizon Europe (topic HORIZON-INFRA-2024-TECH-01-03 - New digital twins for Destination Earth ) to strengthen Destination Earth (DestinE), Europe’s initiative to build a high-precision, interactive digital twin of the Earth. Digital twins are computational models of real-world phenomena that can be used to simulate the past, model the present, and predict the future. Together with TerraDT and

About Future Needs Future Needs is an interdisciplinary communication and social science research SME based in Cyprus. Its team combines expertise in science communication, inclusive digital service design, policy evaluation, business development, and project management. Future Needs specialises in shaping technologies to fit the needs of practitioners and end users. The team brings together emerging technology trends, creativity, youth entrepreneurship, and a start-up minds

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)  Scientific Computing is an international centre of excellence f or advanced computing expertise and digital research infrastructure. Its depth of expertise and knowledge across the full range of advanced computing technologies, combined with a global network of partners and internationally-renowned facilities, enables it to provide the vital skills and tools required for modern research and innovation. From high-performance co

UrbanAIR took part in the 12th International Conference on Urban Climate (ICUC12) in Rotterdam. The event brought together leading voices in climate science, planning, and policy under the theme Heritage as an Urban Climate Challenge.