Internet-Based Heat Evaluation and Assessment Tool (I-HEAT): Development of a Novel Visualization and Decision-support Tool for Extreme Heat Preparedness in Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

Observed and expected changes in global and regional climates pose significant challenges to local decision makers tasked with identifying, preparing for, and responding to impacts on human populations. In particular, extreme heat is expected to increase in duration and intensity in Midwestern U.S. cities in this century. Because of the increased availability of climatic and demographic data at fine spatial scales (regional and neighborhood levels, respectively) (Walsh et al. 2014; Bhaduri et al. 2007), data-driven applications for identification of intra-urban vulnerability to temperature and climate are becoming possible. As one example, the Internet-Based Heat Evaluation and Assessment Tool (I-HEAT) integrates multi-scale remotely sensed environmental imagery with demographic and health data for Detroit, Michigan in a web-based mapping software. Few published feasibility studies document how these tools are made usable for and evaluated by the end-users leading heat preparedness efforts in the U.S., such as emergency managers, public health practitioners, and sustainability coordinators. In this paper, we describe our process for presenting I-HEAT to a diverse group of 28 end-users in Southeast Michigan during a day-long workshop, where we collected feedback through surveys and focus groups on the tool’s real-world application and utility. We present the findings of these surveys and focus groups, highlighting the strengths and limitations of the tool and the additional innovative applications identified by workshop participants. By sharing the process and findings of our feasibility study, we inform future development, implementation, and evaluation for I-HEAT and similar tools that may be critical in assisting local decision makers in their sustainability and climate planning efforts.