Repurposing Mesoscale Traffic Models for Insights into Traveler Heat Exposure Mitigation: Icarus and the case of Phoenix

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Description

To address the dearth of knowledge about person-based and trip-level exposure, we developed the Icarus model. Icarus uses mesoscale traffic model—activity-based model—to analyze the heat exposure of regions of interest at an individual level. The goal with Icarus was to

To address the dearth of knowledge about person-based and trip-level exposure, we developed the Icarus model. Icarus uses mesoscale traffic model—activity-based model—to analyze the heat exposure of regions of interest at an individual level. The goal with Icarus was to design accurate, granular models of population and temperature behavior for a target region, which could be transformed into a heat exposure model by means of simulation and spatial-temporal joining. By combining and implementing the most robust software and data available, Icarus was able to capture person-based exposure with unparalleled detail. Here we describe the model methodology. We use the metropolitan region of Phoenix, Arizona, USA to carry out a case study using Icarus.

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Walking and Transit and Heat, Oh My!: An Exposure Study of Phoenix Pedestrians

Description

Many people use public transportation in their daily lives, which is often praised at as a healthy and sustainable choice to make. However, in extreme temperatures this also puts people at a greater risk for negative consequences resulting from such

Many people use public transportation in their daily lives, which is often praised at as a healthy and sustainable choice to make. However, in extreme temperatures this also puts people at a greater risk for negative consequences resulting from such exposure to heat. In Phoenix, public transportation riders are faced with extreme heat in the summer along with the increased internal heat production caused by the physical activity required to use public transportation. In this study, I estimated total exposure and average exposure per rider for six stops in Phoenix. To do this I used City of Phoenix ridership data, weather data, and survey responses from an ASU City of Phoenix Bus Stop Survey conducted in summer 2016. These data sets were combined by multiplying different metrics to produce various exposure values. During analysis two sets of calculations were made. One keeping weather constant and another keeping ridership constant. I found that there was a large range of exposure between the selected stops and that the thermal environment influences the amount of exposure depending on the time of day the exposure is occurring. During the morning a greener location leads to less exposure, while in the afternoon an urban location leads to less exposure. Know detailed information about exposure at these stops I was also able to evaluate survey participants' thermal comfort at each stop and how it may relate to exposure. These findings are useful in making educated transportation planning decisions and improving the quality of life for people living in places with extreme summer temperatures.

Date Created
2018-05
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Arizona Extreme Weather and Public Health Workshop Summary Report

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Description
In June 2016, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) with researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) convened a one-day workshop of public health professionals and experts from Arizona’s county and state agencies to advance statewide preparedness for extreme weather

In June 2016, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) with researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) convened a one-day workshop of public health professionals and experts from Arizona’s county and state agencies to advance statewide preparedness for extreme weather events and climate change. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sponsors the Climate-Ready Cities and States Initiative, which aims to help communities across the country prepare for and prevent projected disease burden associated with climate change. Arizona is one of 18 public health jurisdictions funded under this initiative. ADHS is deploying the CDC’s five-step Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework to assist counties and local public health partners with becoming better prepared to face challenges associated with the impacts of climate-sensitive hazards. Workshop participants engaged in facilitated exercises designed to rigorously consider social vulnerability to hazards in Arizona and to prioritize intervention activities for extreme heat, wildfire, air pollution, and flooding.

This report summarizes the proceedings of the workshop focusing primarily on two sessions: the first related to social vulnerability mapping and the second related to the identification and prioritization of interventions necessary to address the impacts of climate-sensitive hazards.
Date Created
2016-11-28
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