Evaluating by doing: Cooling streets and public realms in the south of Europe. [Resilient green and social infrastructure]

Our research team in Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, together with the Municipality of Madrid is looking for international partners to co-develop a data-driven, cost-effective intervention strategy for climate adaptation in already urbanized streets in south European countries. The research will focus on how Nature Based Solutions (NBS) can be applied and adapted to technically difficult and fragile urban environments through diverse pilot projects.

This initiative proposes a strategy based on autonomous, replicable, and high-impact interventions displayed in different scales.

The location and design of these interventions will be led by data collection, modelling and simulation to maximize environmental and social benefits.

Key Objectives

• Integrating water-sensitive design into street sections through Sustainable Urban Dreinage  SUDS and NBS towards transforming streets into Urban Green/ Blue Corridors.

• Climate adaptation and urban cooling through different and localized interventions.

• Use digital tools to map existing infrastructure and services, simulate runoff and thermal impacts, aid participation and co-creation and design data-driven proposals.

• Design a set of cost-effective, autonomous, ‘pocket’ or full-scale interventions.

• Document, evaluate and disseminate results through open data, design guidelines, and public engagement to support uptake in other European cities, especially those with similar drought and heat risks.

Expected Outputs

• A replicable methodology for climate adaptation in dense urban areas susceptible to drought and heat island effects.

• Validated models for runoff and thermal comfort

• Catalogue of NBS cost-effective strategies.

• Relevant context indicators

• Modelling the effects

• Effective participation model

We are looking for partners to join the project preferably in these areas of expertise:

1. Bioclimatic modelling  of NbS effects and monitoring/evaluation.

2. Citizen engagement and co-design processes focused on Mobility and NbS intersections.

3. Economy and feasability, cost-effectiveness, local circular economy and value creation

4. Sociology:assessment of social value and return, processes of appropriation, and broader social impact