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

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.

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

Providing Forcing Data for Urban Simulations About Météo-France Météo-France is the official French meteorological administration, also offering services to Andorra and Monaco. It has the powers of the state and can exercise them in relation to meteorology. Météo-France is in charge of observing, studying, forecasting weather and monitoring snowpack. The organisation also issues weather warnings for the Metropole and the overseas territories. Météo-France is also in charge of

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

European cities are experiencing increasingly severe heatwaves and rising air pollution, posing major risks to public health and urban liveability. In 2024, record-breaking temperatures affected Europe, prompting cities like London and Milan to introduce emergency measures against dangerous pollution levels. In response, UrbanAIR , a new EU-funded initiative, is collaborating with European cities to develop decision-support tools that integrate neighbourhood- and street-level