USF architecture and water researchers partner with city of Tampa to mitigate the impact of extreme heat
By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing
With Tampa on track for record-breaking heat this summer, University of South Florida researchers are collaborating with the city of Tampa to implement strategies that can help protect the city and its residents. The project, Bridging Knowledge to Action, will direct the city’s efforts to enhance resilience through new initiatives, including planting more trees and establishing dedicated spaces for individuals to cool down.
The research, led by Taryn Sabia, assistant dean for research in the USF College of The Arts, began in 2022 with funding from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program. By combining social demographics with land surface temperature maps, Sabia and her team developed the Heat Vulnerability Index, which identified a strong correlation between lower-income neighborhoods and higher temperatures.
Lena Young-Green, president of Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association; Taryn Sabia, USF director of Florida Center for Community Design and Research; Whit Remer, chief resilience and sustainability Officer, City of Tampa.
“These communities often lack the resources to make necessary improvements to cope with rising temperatures, making them particularly susceptible to heat-related health issues,” said Sabia, who’s also an associate professor of research in the School of Architecture & Community Design.
Continue reading this article at the USF Newsroom.