Heat mind map
Would you like to find out about the issues extreme heat can cause in cities? Two mind maps are available to this end: the “Heat mind map” and the “Exceptional Heat mind map”.
For whom?
The mind maps have been compiled for municipalities and can also be of use to other organisations involved in urban heat issues.
How can the mind maps be used?
In these mind maps, issues relating to extreme heat are divided into five themes: health, grids, water, liveability and outdoor areas. For example, the mind maps can be used in dialogues on how to prepare for extreme and exceptional heat.
Heat mind map
The Heat mind map is interactive: each issue is clickable and links to a fact sheet providing information and an explanation. For example, heat can have a major impact on a person’s health, labour productivity and sleep. And how does heat affect neighbourhood streets? What are the consequences for plants and wildlife? Every fact sheet concludes with potential measures to combat the issues. The fact sheets can be simply downloaded.
Exceptional Heat mind map
The Exceptional Heat mind map (pptx, 2.1 MB) shows what can happen if temperatures rise to 40oC or more for a few days in a row. Such a situation is sometimes referred to as Code Red for heat. In such cases, houses can warm up to such an extent that staying at home would be dangerous. Parks or other green outdoor areas will no longer offer any cooling either. In the Netherlands, we are still not quite prepared for such situations, but the probability of exceptional heat is increasing. In addition to direct consequences, “cascade effects” can occur: some consequences may set off a chain reaction.
Who has developed the mind maps?
The Heat mind map was developed in 2016 by Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. The latest version dates from April 2019; this underpins the Exceptional Heat Mind map, which was compiled by Climate Adaptation Services in collaboration with the community health service (GGD) and the Municipality of Amsterdam.
