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.
Leibniz-Instituts für ökologische Raumentwicklung e. V. (IÖR)
Weberplatz 1 | 01217 Dresden | Germany
+49 351 4679 215
heatresilientcity@ioer.de
Team
Regine Ortlepp | Lead of the project consortium |
Janneke Westermann | Scientific coordinator of the project consortium |
Karsten Grunewald | Scientific project manager |
Christoph Schünemann | Scientific project manager |
Patrycia Brzoska | Scientific staff |
David Schiela | Scientific staff |
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:
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.
Institute for Urban Research, Planning and Communication (ISP) of the University of Applied Sciences in Erfurt (FHE)
Altonaer Str. 25 | 99085 Erfurt | Germany
Team
Heidi Sinning | Scientific project manager |
Marie-Luise Baldin | Scientific staff |
Lena Großmann | Scientific staff |
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.
TU Dresden | Faculty of Environmental Sciences | Institute for Hydrology and Meteorology
Chair of Meteorology
Pienner Str. 23 | 01737 Tharandt | Germany
https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/hydro/ihm/meteorologie?set_language=en
Team
Scientific project manager | |
Scientific staff | |
Scientific staff |
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.
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden
Friedrich-List-Platz 1 | 01069 Dresden
+49 351 462 2090
stefanie.kunze @htw-dresden.de
Team
Jens Bolsius | Scientific project manager |
Thomas Naumann | Scientific project manager |
Stefanie Kunze | Scientific staff |
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:
The results of the research are intended to contribute to an enhanced housing quality of the cooperative’s members in the long-term.
Eisenbahner-Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Dresden eG
Kesselsdorfer Straße 161 | 01169 Dresden | Germany
+49 351 41 81 60
s.zweinert @ewg-dresden.de
Team
Antje Neelmeijer | Director | |
Steffen Zweinert | Technical Manager |
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.
Umweltamt Dresden
Grunaer Straße 2 | 01069 Dresden | Germany
heatresilientcity@dresden.de
Team
Franzika Reinfried | Coordinator for the example quarter Dresden-Gorbitz |
Christin Beyer | Scientific staff |
Kurt Brüggemann | Scientific staff |
Benjamin Richter E-Mai: brichter2 @dresden.de Phone +49 351 4889412 | Scientific staff |
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.
Landeshauptstadt Erfurt, Umwelt- und Naturschutzamt
Stauffenbergallee 18 | 99085 Erfurt
+49 361 655-2609
Team
Jörg Lummitsch Phone +49 361 655-2601 E-Mail: umweltamt @erfurt.de | Head of the Department of Environmental and Nature Conservation | |
Guido Spohr Phone +49 361 655-2617 E-Mail: guido.spohr oder @erfurt.desommerhitze @erfurt.de | Coordinator for the example quarter Erfurt Oststadt | |
Ulf Riediger Phone +49 361 655-2616 E-Mail: ulf.riediger @erfurt.de | Responsible official for urban climate |
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