Revealing the Urban Climate

To encourage citizens of the urgency of climate adaptation, visual media are a potential tool. This research examines the potential of ‘climate revelatory visualisations’ and its impact on urban climate awareness. Through a research-by-design process such visualisations were developed, and were found to have a warning and motivating effect.

The new concept ‘climate revelatory visualisations’ carry the potential to motivate citizens, by making climate problems comprehensible and alternative futures imaginable. This research examined what type of visualisations can reveal the urban climate problems and their adaptive solutions best, in order to raise urban climate awareness. In a research-by-design process, multiple design hypotheses in the visualisations are tested on the criteria engagement, clarity, connectivity and trust. The visualisations are embedded in the context of a dense historic neighbourhood (Assendorp, Zwolle), where urban climate problems such as heat stress and water accumulation occur. The generated visualisations are assessed on the four criteria by the local community. The quantitative and qualitative test results optimised the visualisations and provided insights in the effectiveness on the awareness level. \nThe research findings show that the climate risks and solutions can be effectively presented in photorealistic and animated imagery, supported by graphics. The climate revelatory visualisations should positively frame climate adaptation and show the personal relevant environment of the target audience. A before/after comparison, in which the solutions are revealed subsequent to the problems provides a positive emphasis on climate adaptation. Visualisations revealing the risks of the climate problems, have a warning function; convincing the audience of the urge for adaptation. While visualisations revealing adaptation measures, have a motivating function by promoting a feasible climate adaptive future of their direct environment. The combination of these ingredients in climate revelatory visualisations can trigger significant steps in the awareness level amongst citizens.\nThis project gives the prospect that such animated visualisations can be a powerful tool for raising awareness of more urban citizens. More forms of the concept climate revelatory visualisations are open for discovery and promise to contribute to more urban climate adaptive landscapes in the future.