In a collaboration between RMIT and the University of New South Wales, the Citizen Science Project will mobilise a league of enthusiastic citizen scientists to assist Australia’s leading universities and scientific organisations with their research. The project was one of the successful grants announced by the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Arthur Sinodinos.
Click here to enter the Citizen science Project website.
What is the project?
The number of extreme hot days is predicted to increase significantly over the next few decades in all Australian cities with a huge impact on public health, mortality rates, energy demand and the economy. With the help of citizens, this project will measure urban heat islands, overheating, and local climate change in selected Australian councils, providing the data required for citizens to understand, mitigate and adapt to extreme heat.
Project results may assist policymakers in predicting future health and energy needs and planning the urban built environment and open space. Importantly, through data collection and participation, citizens will be empowered to respond to extreme heat through an understanding of the influential factors.
Who will be involved?
Researchers will work with 12,200 local community members through 22 councils from various states representing different geographical locations. The locations will be selected based on factors such as density, population, physical features, overheating problems etc. The first selected councils are: City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, Moreland City Council, Blacktown City Council and City of Adelaide. Further councils to be announced.
What is involved?
Using measurement sensors, citizens will be educated on how to measure the microclimate in their neighbourhood. The online thermal comfort model and mitigation tool developed will help to understand the important parameters influencing the microclimate and the ways to improve the adverse effects of increased temperatures.
This approach will help to transfer knowledge about climate mitigation technologies to the participating citizens; involve them in the selection of appropriate mitigation measures through understanding of the usefulness of the mitigation technologies; and promote their active participation in the implementation of mitigation techniques in their home and neighbourhood.
Project Team
- Associate Professor Priya Rajagopalan
- Professor Mat Santamouris
- Dr Mary Myla Andamon
- Andrew Carre
- Dr Ricardo Paolini
- Dr Afroditi Synnefa
- Dr Ruwini Edrisinghe
Publications
- Final report: Citizen Science Urban Microclimate: Project report March 2021
- Journal Paper: Investigating thermal comfort and energy impact through microclimate monitoring- a citizen science approach. Energy and Buildings. 229, 15 December 2020, 110526. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110526
- Conference paper: Developing Experimental Protocol for collecting large scale urban microclimate data through community participation. Paper presented at ASA 2018: The 52nd International Conference of the Architectural Science Association 2018, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia , 28 November-1 December 2018
- Conference paper: Public engagement in urban microclimate research - An overview of a citizen science project. Paper in M.A. Schnabel (Ed.), Back to the Future: The Next 50 Years. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference of the Architectural Science Association 2017, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 29 November - 2 December 2017
Recent news
Contribution to the Australia Citizen Science Association symposium on Innovation in Citizen Science, 7 October 2020
Community of practice in citizen science research – Using citizen science data: Urban Heat Island Effect and Citizen Science
RMIT University brings Citizen Science Project to Bayswater
RMIT University researchers engaged City of Bayswater residents in measuring climate in the Bayswater wetlands area as part its Citizen Science Project this week.
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Microclimate project to help planners keep heat island effect at bay
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If you've ever fancied yourself as an amateur climate scientist, you now have an opportunity to participate in an Australia-wide micro-climate study.
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Brains Trust
People-powered research has evolved from counting frogs and stars to hi-tech projects that are boosting our understanding of biodiversity, etymology and the origins of the universe. Citizen scientists are having a big impact.
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Citizen scientists to help map urban heat
Residents can arm themselves with heat sensors as part of an arsenal of scientific tools to help map Campbelltown’s heat levels, in an interactive community first that will compare data from 21 other councils across Australia.
JOIN A STUDY ON EXTREME HEAT IN YARRA
We're looking for 100 enthusiastic people to become citizen scientists and join world renowned universities RMIT and UNSW, in their research of urban heat and local climate change to help better understand how we can reduce extreme heat and adapt.
RMIT NEWS ARTICLE
Virtual Centre for Climate Change Innovation
The Virtual Centre for Climate Change Innovation (VCCCI) has been established to strengthen Victoria’s role as a climate change leader. The Virtual Centre will foster innovative approaches and collaboration between businesses, industry, researchers and government to help Victoria reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
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