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 

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 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

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.

By Dr Jens Jensen , Scientific Computing, STFC We were pleased to learn that the UrbanAIR proposal, submitted by TU Delft on behalf of the consortium, was selected for funding under Horizon Europe . The project aims to support cities in managing air pollution, heat stress, and urban climate risks using high-resolution digital twins. How STFC and DAFNI are supporting UrbanAIR Our team at DAFNI and STFC Scientific Computing’s Computational Engineering group is working with the

The Green Potential Map is a co-designed tool emerging from UrbanAIR’s collaboration with the City of Antwerp. It combines environmental modelling and behavioural insights to support urban greening decisions. This blog traces how the idea grew from a stakeholder meeting into a multi-layered climate service shaped with and for cities.

Our weekly series introducing the organisations behind the UrbanAIR project continues with VITO . UrbanAIR is a Horizon Europe project developing a digital twin for cities to tackle urban heat and air pollution. Each week, we’re spotlighting one of our partners contributing to better-informed, more climate-resilient urban planning. About VITO VITO is a leading European research and technology organisation in the field of cleantech and sustainable development, based in Belgi

Modelling wind at local and even façade level is crucial. If the EWI building on campus had been at a slightly different angle, wind comfort could have been much better. As heat stress and air pollution increasingly ravages cities, the UrbanAIR project will develop a digital twin that supports decision makers to design resilient urban areas that can cope with the changing climate. The digital twin can become a powerful tool for municipalities and urban planners to design dist

The UrbanAIR project officially launched with a two-day kickoff meeting in Delft on 3–4 February 2025. Hosted by TU Delft, the meeting welcomed over 60 representatives from 18 partner organisations. The Horizon Europe-funded initiative helps European cities address growing challenges related to urban heat and air pollution by developing advanced digital twin solutions for climate resilience. UrbanAIR brings together a diverse team of researchers, engineers, urban planners, be