Arizona State University has developed an open-source online tool called Cool Routes to help pedestrians find the coolest and shadiest paths through urban areas. The platform currently covers the Tempe campus and aims to address the urban heat island effect that makes walking dangerous in hot cities.
The tool calculates mean radiant temperature by analyzing shade from buildings and trees using high-resolution data from the United States Geological Survey. It also incorporates forecasted weather and time of day to simulate thermal conditions from six directions.
Isaac Buo, an urban informatics scientist at ASU who co-led the project, explained the approach. “If you’re willing to make a detour of, say, two extra minutes, we can get you through a route that is well-shaded,” he said.
Researchers tested the calculations with a mobile cart called MaRTy on hot summer days. The platform is being open-sourced so other cities can adapt it for planning tree plantings or shaded bus stops.
