Extreme heat is a growing problem in many cities around the world, due to the impact of climate change. As temperatures rise, it becomes increasingly difficult for people to stay cool and healthy. Google uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help cities tackle extreme heat. This is a growing problem in many cities around the world, as temperatures rise due to climate change.
Google’s AI-powered solutions
Google is using AI to develop a variety of solutions to help cities tackle extreme heat. These solutions include:
Predicting heatwaves: Google is using AI to predict heatwaves days in advance. This allows cities to take steps to prepare for the heat, such as opening cooling centers and issuing heat alerts.
Identifying vulnerable populations: Google is using AI to identify populations that are most vulnerable to heat, such as the elderly, children, and people with chronic health conditions. This information can be used to target resources and services to those who need them most.
Optimizing cooling systems: Google is using AI to optimize the operation of cooling systems in buildings and public spaces. This can help to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.
Developing new cooling technologies: Google is also working on developing new cooling technologies that are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Case studies
Quantifiable data is crucial for cities to identify their hottest, most vulnerable communities and prioritize where to implement cooling strategies. This Google Tool uses AI-powered object detection and other models to account for local characteristics, like how much green space a city has or how well the roofs on buildings reflect sunlight.
Key areas of Google’s involvement include:
- Heat Resilience Tool: This tool analyzes satellite and aerial imagery to identify heat islands and suggest cooling interventions like planting trees or using reflective surfaces.
- AI-powered object detection: Google’s AI models can analyze local characteristics like green space and building reflectivity to assess a city’s vulnerability to extreme heat. 1.
- Piloting in US cities: This helps urban planners and local governments see the impact of cooling interventions right down to the neighborhood level. Google is piloting the tool in 14 U.S. cities, where officials are using it to identify which neighborhoods are most vulnerable to extreme heat and develop a plan to address rising temperatures. For example, in Phoenix, Arizona, Google has been using AI to predict heatwaves and identify vulnerable populations. In Athens, Greece, Google has been working with the city to optimize the operation of cooling systems in public spaces.
Benefits of Google’s AI solutions
Google’s AI solutions can help cities to:
Reduce heat-related illness and death: By predicting heatwaves and identifying vulnerable populations, cities can take steps to protect their residents from the harmful effects of extreme heat.
Create more sustainable cities: Google’s AI solutions can help cities to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Challenges
There are some challenges associated with using AI to tackle extreme heat. For example, AI models need to be trained on large datasets of weather data, which can be difficult to obtain in some areas. Additionally, AI models may not be able to accurately predict heatwaves in all regions.
Future outlook
Google is committed to using AI to help cities tackle extreme heat. The company is continuing to develop new AI solutions and to work with cities around the world to test and implement these solutions.
Note: Most of the creatives shared above are created by the author, using AI
