Citizen scientists map experiences of heat on Phoenix streets.

Citizen scientists map experiences of heat on Phoenix streets.

More than 40 volunteers, 10 organizations and one micro-climate sensing robot took to the streets this September for the HeatMappers Walk. Temperature sensors and recorders in hand, citizen scientists braved triple-digit temperatures to map a collective experience of heat in Phoenix’s Edison-Eastlake neighborhood, one of the city’s least shaded and most exposed areas.

In addition to raising awareness of the need for addressing urban heat, the event also gathered data that was used to run simulations for municipal Heat Action Plans and to create a baseline for thermal comfort in the neighborhood. Kids from the neighborhood received ASU swag and information about staying cool, as they marked on a neighborhood map places where they noticed it was cooler or hotter.

The HeatMappers Walk was organized by The Nature Conservancy in collaboration with KER, ASU’s Urban Climate Research Center, Museum of Walking, Phoenix Revitalization Corporation and City of Phoenix.

A HeatWalk citizen scientist strikes a pose after completing data collection.