Tree Architecture and Urban Microclimate

With the changing climate, the problem of heat stress in cities is getting closer and closer. This exacerbates the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon, in which cities can get up to 8 degrees warmer than the surrounding land. High temperatures are bad for liveability and a health hazard. Heat is also a problem for vital infrastructure such as power supply and water quality. Reducing heat stress in cities has an indirect impact on climate change by counteracting the need for measures that are bad for the climate, such as the purchase of air conditioners. There are several ways to combat heat stress, of which green infrastructure (GI) is one of the most effective. The basis of green infrastructure is the vegetation layer, of which trees form the key element. Knowledge about the cooling effect of trees and the performance of various species is still scarce, and flawed. The first objective of this project is therefore to contribute to fundamental knowledge about the cooling effect of trees and the performance of species. A second objective is the need for practical and low-threshold solutions for heat stress in cities by means of (temporary) arrangements of trees. The project has an applied research component: the development of a system for the temporary application of climate forests in heat stress locations. Green infrastructure - and trees in particular - also have benefits for air quality, water management and C02 capture. The third objective is to educate and raise awareness on the ecosystem services of urban trees and the urban forest, by creating 'climate aboreta' on various locations.