Google Research Expands Heat Data to 50+ Cities, Launches 30-cm Earth Engine App
Updated
Updated · Google Research · Jun 30
Google Research Expands Heat Data to 50+ Cities, Launches 30-cm Earth Engine App
1 articles · Updated · Google Research · Jun 30
Summary
Google Research opened a building-level rooftop reflectivity dataset for 50-plus cities across nine countries through a new Heat Resilience Earth Engine App aimed at urban heat planning.
30-centimeter maps were created by fusing Sentinel-2 satellite data with Airbus Pléiades Neo imagery, improving on standard 10-meter albedo estimates that cannot resolve individual rooftops.
Google said the model was validated against airborne hyperspectral measurements over Boulder, Colorado, with a root mean square error of 0.04, giving planners building-specific retrofit targets.
Targeted cool-roof deployment using the data could cut extreme urban heat by up to 0.5°C globally, addressing a heat burden linked to about 500,000 deaths a year.
The release scales up a 2024 pilot in 14 cities that informed cool-roof ordinances and adaptation plans, with new coverage including London, Athens, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles and New York City.
As AI maps urban hotspots, who stands to profit from the multi-billion dollar cool roof industry it fuels?
Is Google's AI a true climate solution, or a high-tech distraction from the root causes of urban heat?
Google Expands High-Resolution Urban Albedo Data to 50+ Cities: New Tools to Combat Urban Heat Islands
Overview
Google has expanded its urban heat resilience initiative by introducing a high-resolution, building-level rooftop reflectivity (albedo) dataset and a new Heat Resilience Earth Engine App. Using advanced AI on satellite imagery, Google now provides detailed albedo data for over 50 cities in 9 countries, greatly increasing coverage. This openly accessible data helps urban planners, researchers, and policymakers analyze and monitor urban heat, making it easier to plan cooling interventions. The new app makes the data user-friendly, supporting visualization, analysis, and downloads, empowering cities worldwide to address the urban heat island effect more effectively.