Using citizen science to discover the power of water and green spaces in Dublin

 On a sunny day in June, a group of citizens gathered on the University College Dublin campus to discuss climate change, water resources and local temperatures in the neighbourhood. Using innovative wearable sensing technology, attendees were divided into two groups to gather temperature and humidity data in the city.

Organised by the Dublin Living Lab of the I-CHANGE project in collaboration with the UCD Citizen Science Community of Practice, the event aimed at evaluating perceptions of urban temperature changes among attendees, gathering high-resolution data at locations relevant to the community, and discussing the role of water resources and greenery in the local climate.

This event provided insight into how people perceive temperature and humidity changes across contrasting urban environments: paved areas with buildings, tree-shaded streets, zones with busy traffic, and green areas with water bodies. Moreover, because the event also took place at other Living Labs in different countries within the I-CHANGE project, the data will allow for analysis on a larger scale.

Participants were pleased to use and test new technologies and help collect temperature and humidity data around their local neighbourhood. They also expressed that they have learned a lot and gained a better understanding of the complexity of climate, especially the variations in temperature and humidity that can occur in a neighbourhood. It was also striking that they collected the data that led them to this understanding, after observing climate differences between different areas. 

 “Hands-on workshop of using the sensor and analysis of the results.”  

 “Very interactive and excellent presenters, good to walk and understand all the variables which influence temperature.” 

 “Nice bike tour. Learned about microclimates.” 

The idea behind I-CHANGE is to empower citizens with tools that allow them to learn that it is possible to reduce their environmental footprint through small changes in their daily lives. This event changed the perception of the participants about temperature and humidity changes at the neighbourhood level. It helped raise awareness about the potential effects of climate change in Dublin, such as air pollution, sea level rise, flooding, urban heat islands and extreme temperatures. By putting data in citizens' hands, they were motivated to investigate why temperature and humidity were changing and which factors may be influencing them. Despite the complexity of urban climates, there was an agreement on the importance of shade, green areas and water bodies to reduce temperature extremes in cities.