The Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) is an establishment of the Leibniz Association for research in the spatial sciences. Our concern is the scientific basis for the sustainable development of cities and regions in the national and international context. Our research addresses ecological issues of sustainable development.
We investigate interactions between the natural environment and society and the options available for influencing them. On the basis of our findings we are able to advise the government and society. Our endeavor is to contribute through innovative research and advice to the compatibility of human action and the development of the natural environment in order to ensure the sustainable basis of life. The Institute addresses the scientific basis for the sustainable development of cities and regions in the national and international context. Researches are concentrated on six main areas, of which two collaborate in the HeatResilientCity project: The 'Environmental Risks in Urban and Regional Development' research area that deals with environmental risks caused by natural hazards and climate change as well as with the respective measures, strategies and tools required for taking these challenges into account, and the 'Landscape Change and Management' research area analyzing the changes in cities and regions with special consideration of open spaces and their ecosystem services

Main tasks of the IOER in the HeatResilientCity project:

The IOER serves as the lead partner and manager of the joint transdisciplinary research project, which necessitates co-design of the various sub-tasks, whereby the contents, goals and work processes closely reflect the practical requirements, potentials and windows of opportunity. The project management that strives for cooperation and the intelligent division of tasks includes the following core elements: (a) the joint discussion and management of the main research questions and their interlinking by a project steering group with equal voting rights for representatives from the fields of science and practice; (b) the provision and moderation of suitable formats for information and communication at the project level; (c) the continual supervision of planning and negotiation process in the neighborhoods (example quarters serving as living labs) as well as (d) risk management on the basis of wide experience gained in collaborative projects with complex and demanding constellations of partners. Further, IOER plays a leading role with regard to adaptation measures at building and city quarter scale including ecosystem services and the integrative consolidation of the research results of the joint transdisciplinary research project. At building scale, the IOER analyzes the effect of long lasting heat periods on and in buildings as well as measures for adaptation against summer heat for buildings. Based on that we develop precise concepts to protect buildings against summer heat. The intended measures must also be accepted by the residents. We transfer these concepts namely for prefabricated buildings and buildings in the Wilhelminian style, into recommended actions by the local project and associated partners. Combining climate protection (energy efficiency/green buildings) and climate adaptation measures (risk management) for buildings is thereby a major challenge. At the city quarter scale, we consider mainly so called ecosystem services. Thus, we examine in detail the value and functioning of nature for humans in the example quarters. The services of nature are very important for the well-being of residents because they allow for example temperature reduction during heat periods or the prevention of air pollution. The novelty value of the research is the high spatial resolution of the detection of ecosystem services and the multi-criteria assessment of their impacts.

Address

Leibniz-Instituts für ökologische Raumentwicklung e. V. (IÖR)
Weberplatz 1 | 01217 Dresden | Germany

Phone

+49 351 4679 215

URL

https://www.ioer.de/home/

Team

At the Institute of Urban Research, Planning and Communication (ISP), scientists from diverse disciplinary backgrounds are collaborating to investigate urban transformative processes. ISP’s main research fields range from housing and urban development, sustainable city and settlement planning, climate mitigation and adaptation to communicative participatory planning and governance.

Research at ISP is based on the concept of sustainability and integrates economical, ecological, social and cultural aspects in an intergenerational perspective. The research considers societal change and its effects on urban transformation, development and planning. Issues such as globalization, demographic change, information society, new forms of management (Good Governance) as well as administrative modernizations (New Public Management) are part of scientific investigations. More information is provided here.

Main tasks of the ISP within the research project HeatResilientCity

Within the joint research project, ISP plays a leading role with regard to governance structures, stakeholder perspectives and strategies for districts affected by heat. Perspectives of various actors on urban climate adaptation are investigated and analyzed. Besides participants from administrative, economic and civil sectors, also local residents are actively included in a transdisciplinary approach. In two example quarters in the state capitals Dresden and Erfurt, views of locals are collected, participatory events and activities are implemented and scientifically evaluated.

Tasks comprise inter alia:

• inquiry of subjective heat stress, behavioral patterns and needs of local residents in both example districts 'Erfurt-Oststadt' and 'Dresden-Gorbitz' by surveys and mental maps;
• stakeholder and network analysis to identify the perspectives of key actors on local climate adaptation processes, their capacity to take action as well as communication and implementation barriers. By comparing those results with the perspectives of local residents, interfaces can be identified;
• planning, organization and implementation of events, activities enhancing knowledge transfer and public relations within the example quarters 'Erfurt-Oststadt' and 'Dresden-Gorbitz';
• analysis of national and international good practices regarding citizen-oriented climate adaptation measures. Based on this analysis, success factors as well as barriers to feasibility, efficiency and acceptance of strategies can be identified and transferable experiences gained;
• organization of experts' workshops and a concluding supra-regional conference, as well as evaluation and critical reflection of measures within the test districts;
• documentation of climate adaptation approaches and their prioritization based on the residents' perspective, compilation of discrepancies and consensus between users, planners and experts.

The results will be presented in form of recommendations for municipal action as well as aggregated maps of both test districts, which integrate the different research approaches.

Address

Institute for Urban Research, Planning and Communication (ISP) of the University of Applied Sciences in Erfurt (FHE)
Altonaer Str. 25 | 99085 Erfurt | Germany

URL

https://isp.fh-erfurt.de

Team

The climate system with its manifold interactions and feedbacks does not easily support single process oriented approaches. However, process understanding remains the key to understand nature through analysis and model building. The common research mission at the Department of Meteorology is the “Surface- Atmosphere-Interaction” with the necessary, i.e. microscale to mesoscale resolution.

Both long-term observations and intensive measurement campaigns are realized in order to collect a multitude of three-dimensional atmospheric data sets. Modeling and model simulations of the atmosphere, including interactions with the land surface (e.g., vegetation), are used within research projects. The topics of the HRC project are integrated in the research focus of bioclimate and urban climate, generating synergies with other collaborative projects (3DO, Life Local Adapt, Urban Forests). In the last ten years, the scope of the Department of Meteorology at the TU Dresden was considerably enlarged. Nevertheless, research and teaching remain equally important tasks of all approx. 30 members of the Department. Thus, current research results are used for lectures and traineeships in the study programs at the TU Dresden (including hydro sciences, forest sciences, geography, spatial development and natural resource management).

Main tasks of the TUD in the HeatResilientCity project

The sub-project of TU Dresden aims to identify and quantify factors for the current and future thermal stress in specific districts of the cities of Dresden and Erfurt. Climate data from the regional (ca. 3 km) to small scale (buildings) will be provided as a main project result – for users in the joint project and for later applications on district level. For this purpose, data from the dynamic mesoscale model Cosmo-CLM (German Weather Service) and regionalized station-based data (REKIS) will be reprocessed for periods in present (1981-2010, reanalysis data ERA-Interim) and future (2021-2050, IPCC RCP 8.5) for the cities Dresden and Erfurt. Based on these data, grid-based mean and extreme reference summer periods for past, present and future will be derived for the considered districts and their surroundings as input for the applications in the joint project.

Using well-established statistical approaches from literature as well as derived by micro-scale model simulations (ENVI-met, SOLWEIG), the urban effect on climate data will be considered: first the mean Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect for the specific city is added to the climate data, second the UHI is modified by specific characteristics of the city districts (topography, current and future distribution of structure parameters like sky view factor, building height, street width, degree of surface sealing).

To evaluate the effect of a changing city planning (e.g., densification of dwelling zones, change of green areas) on bio-climate, the thermal exposure of residents is determined under extreme summer weather conditions using well-stablished indices (PET, UTCI) and the micro-scale models. The simulated data will be evaluated with measurements and are freely usable for non-commercial and public applications.

Our motivation for the project HRC lies in the improvement of networking and communicative interfaces with municipal decision makers as well as district managers and citizens' initiatives in order to apply scientific results on the heat stress in Dresden and Erfurt in practice.

Address

TU Dresden | Faculty of Environmental Sciences  | Institute for Hydrology and Meteorology
Chair of Meteorology
Pienner Str. 23 | 01737 Tharandt | Germany

URL

https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/hydro/ihm/meteorologie?set_language=en

Team

University of Applied Sciences Dresden is the second-largest university in the capital of the state of Saxony with more than 5000 students and was founded in 1992. Engineering, economics, design, and 'green' disciplines constitute the four pillars that the 36 forward-looking diploma, bachelor and master degree programs in civil engineering/architecture, electrical engineering, informatics, product design, machine engineering and business administration are based on.

University of Applied Sciences Dresden is actively engaged in research and development, especially in its four profile lines Mobil systems and mechatronics, Sustainable livelihoods, Information systems, Business management and entrepreneurship. The research profile is application-oriented and interdisciplinary, corresponds with our core competence, and is being constantly refined. The university is part of a network of companies, research and educational institutions, associations, and lobbyists.

Main tasks in the research project HeatResilientCity

The research project HeatResilientCity at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden is handled jointly by the Chair "Building Physics / Building Climate and Air Conditioning" of the faculty "Mechanical Engineering" and the Chair "Building Construction " of the faculty "Civil Engineering". The team of researchers focuses on structural and technical adaptation measures of heat-sensitive buildings. Thermal building simulations are used for the analysis of protection against summer overheating under current and future climatic conditions. Innovative, socially balanced and effective concepts for reducing thermal stress in buildings are developed, which are evaluated with regard to their effectiveness, technical practicability and economic efficiency. The resulting building concepts will be tested in pilot projects in cooperation with the project partners.

Address

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden
Friedrich-List-Platz 1 | 01069 Dresden

Phone

+49 351 462 2090

E-Mail

stefanie.kunzeioer@htw-dresden.de

URL

https://www.htw-dresden.de/en/home.html

Team

The EWG is the leading provider of housing in the western part of Dresden, and guarantees its cooperative members favorable rents, high customer proximity as well as quality and safety. As a forward-looking district developer and pioneering co-creator and innovator of living space, the EWG is achieving a perceptible living environment development in the western part of Dresden - thanks to its environmentally responsible, sustainable and future-oriented actions. The EWG responds to the challenges presented by demographic development and the urban housing market as a pioneer - by providing student accommodation, creating apartments geared to the need of senior citizens and the new construction of family apartments.

With nearly 9,000 apartments, the EWG is the major housing cooperative in the western part of Dresden. The apartments of the housing cooperative are located in the districts of Gorbitz, Löbtau, Cotta, Briesnitz, Naußlitz and Dölzschen.

Main tasks in the HeatResilientCity research project

The EWG Dresden is active in the Research Association as a practice partner from the housing sector. The two existing buildings selected, Leutewitzer Ring 21 and 25 in Dresden-Gorbitz, have been made available by the housing cooperative as objects of research

In addition, the EWG Dresden is actively involved in the project, including the following services:

• providing digital building data
• practical participation in the planning of specific heat reduction measures for buildings and in open spaces
• implementation (on a pilot basis) of the options contained in the "Innovative building redevelopment/construction" work package
• participation in the identification of suitable locations and periods for the survey in Dresden-Gorbitz
• addressing views of the residents in the cooperative's media - information on planned studies and encouragement to take part in surveys and further actions
• practicable realization of the planned concepts on a pilot basis in our own housing stock, in order to reduce the build-up of heat inside apartments during heat periods and improve the residential quality for tenants
• support with the meteorological documentation and installation of data loggers to monitor the effectiveness of the adaptation measures.

The results of the research are intended to contribute to an enhanced housing quality of the cooperative’s members in the long-term.

Address

Eisenbahner-Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Dresden eG
Kesselsdorfer Straße 161 | 01169 Dresden | Germany

Phone

+49 351 41 81 60

E-Mail

s.zweinertioer@ewg-dresden.de

URL

https://www.ewg-dresden.de/

Team

The Environmental Department of the Saxon state capital Dresden (Germany) advises citizens and companies to secure and improve the natural livelihood in the city in the long term. This includes for example clean water, fresh air, nutrient-rich soils, healthy urban climate, diverse fauna and flora as well as the overall appearance of the landscape. Furthermore, the Environmental Department is responsible for the protection of citizens from harmful environmental effects as well as the maintenance of cultural landscapes and natural habitats.

Main tasks of the Environmental Department in the HeatResilientCity project:
The Environmental Department takes care of measuring air temperature and air humidity in the study area. This includes the evaluation of the collected data. Moreover, the project staff records and evaluates the ecosystem services in the project area. They support the public relations, the publication of project results as well as the resident surveys on site.

Furthermore, the project staff organizes and coordinates the work in the example quarter in Dresden-Gorbitz (Germany). In coordinating the networking within the city of Dresden, the Environmental Department supports the understanding of climate adaption with the aim to improve the implementation of climate adaption actions against summer heat.

Address

Umweltamt Dresden
Grunaer Straße 2 | 01069 Dresden | Germany

E-Mail

heatresilientcity@dresden.de

URL

www.dresden.de/de/stadtraum/umwelt/umwelt.php

Team

The Department of Environmental and Nature Conservation is part of the municipal administration of the Thuringian state capital Erfurt (Germany). Within the HeatResilientCity project, it is responsible for the following tasks:

Our Department supports the resident surveys as well as the coordination of campaigns and exhibitions in the example quarter Erfurt Oststadt. We provide assistance for the public relations and the publication of results. Besides, the Department is the interface between researchers and property administrators in the Oststadt. The networking with stakeholders of other departments of the municipal administration or the civil society is another important task.

We develop policies concerning climate adaptation and heat stress, which are transferred into all parts of the urban society. We support the implementation of these policies for example in urban development concepts, development plans or urban health strategies by emphasizing their relevance. We are responsible for the installation of measuring instruments for air temperature and air humidity as well as the analysis of ecosystem services in the open spaces of Erfurt Oststadt. Finally, we provide relevant environmental data for the project.

Address

Landeshauptstadt Erfurt, Umwelt- und Naturschutzamt
Stauffenbergallee 18 | 99085 Erfurt

Fax

+49 361 655-2609

URL

https://www.erfurt.de/

Team

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Bergmann
Research associate at the Institute for Social-Ecological Research in Frankfurt/M. (ISOE) and Honorary Professor at Leuphana University Lüneburg

Prof. Dr. Günter Groß
Managing Director of the Institute of Meteorology and Climatology at the Leibniz University Hannover

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Runa T. Hellwig
Professor at the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology at the Aalborg University

Eva Bruns
Member of the Speaker Council of the Healthy Cities Network and Associate of Münchner Aktionswerkstatt Gesundheit

Dipl.-Ing. Olaf Hildebrandt
Director of ebök Planning and Development GmbH in Tübingen

Dipl.-Ing. Brigitte Reichmann
Technical Officer at the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing, Berlin