Heat Stress

Heat Stress simulation maps the percentage of time when the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) exceeds 26°C—identifying areas where thermal conditions become physiologically stressful for most people. This critical analysis reveals vulnerability patterns throughout your site, quantifying both the intensity and duration of heat exposure in different zones, which becomes increasingly valuable as urban temperatures rise due to climate change and the urban heat island effect.

Starting fro this heat stress data, designers can implement targeted mitigation strategies including strategic tree placement, high-albedo material selection, water feature integration, and careful programming of outdoor spaces. The simulation provides quantifiable evidence to support design decisions that prioritize thermal justice and public health, ensuring that outdoor environments remain accessible and comfortable during peak heat periods while reducing cooling energy demands for adjacent buildings. This analysis is particularly crucial for vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, and those with health conditions that make them more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

The results of this simulation can be filtered by season or annually, and further refined by selecting the time of day in order to show the insights that are most critical to the project's success.