Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation

<p>Urban areas are particularly affected by climate change. Excessive heat waves, droughts and extreme precipitation events are the most detrimental meteorological events affecting cities and their population worldwide. Adaptation and mitigation measures must be specific for the given climatic...

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Main Authors: N. Eingrüber, W. Korres, U. Löhnert, K. Schneider
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems
Online Access:https://jsss.copernicus.org/articles/14/13/2025/jsss-14-13-2025.pdf
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author N. Eingrüber
W. Korres
U. Löhnert
K. Schneider
author_facet N. Eingrüber
W. Korres
U. Löhnert
K. Schneider
author_sort N. Eingrüber
collection DOAJ
description <p>Urban areas are particularly affected by climate change. Excessive heat waves, droughts and extreme precipitation events are the most detrimental meteorological events affecting cities and their population worldwide. Adaptation and mitigation measures must be specific for the given climatic, socio-economic and cultural conditions. To better understand differences in the natural and social environment and their effects upon climate adaptation strategies in humid and monsoon-driven climates, a densely distributed meteorological sensor network was established in an urban high-density neighbourhood in Pune, India, in 2023 for continuous long-term data collection (12 stations, 59 sensors) following the prototype network installed in the city of Cologne, Germany, in 2021 (14 stations, 58 sensors). Climate change mitigation and adaptation requires activation and participation of citizens. In order to connect the needs of research with citizen participation, it is essential (i) to provide quality-controlled microclimatic measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution; (ii) to provide a basis to analyse cause-and-effect relationships in a given urban microclimatic setting; (iii) to enable suitable climate change adaptation measures to be identified and the participation potential of stakeholders to be assessed; and (iv) to support the building of a community of learners, participants and activists towards becoming actively involved in climate change adaptation in their own living environment. The transferability and expandability of the approach requires that the measurement network must be affordable to facilitate citizen participation. Scientists can use the measurement data for example to validate physically based microclimate models like ENVI-met to simulate adaptation effects. The measurement locations of the standardized, low cost and expandable measurement network in Pune cover the full range of surface characteristics from vegetated parks to street canyons and from built-up inner courtyards to open areas, representing the heterogeneity of the microclimatic conditions within that study area. The similarity of the sensor network in both cities allows for comparison of the functionality of the system under different environmental conditions and assessment of stakeholder and citizen activation and participation in two different countries. Despite challenges arising from discontinuous power supply and radio signal interruptions due to sensor wetness during the rainy season in Pune, the data quality shows that the measurement setup is also suitable for tropical monsoon climates. Stakeholder participation was assessed by statistical analyses of the usage statistics of the NETATMO app by the citizen scientists. Significant differences in the number of app activities between Pune and Cologne were found. Despite differences in the form and intensity of active participation, citizens in both cities show great interest in getting involved in climate research and pathways for climate change adaptation, indicating the high potential of activating citizens in the transformative process towards climate-sensitive urban development.</p>
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spelling doaj-art-37cd5d12014b4054accab6080cf8e3b72025-01-20T06:33:20ZengCopernicus PublicationsJournal of Sensors and Sensor Systems2194-87712194-878X2025-01-0114132610.5194/jsss-14-13-2025Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptationN. Eingrüber0W. Korres1U. Löhnert2K. Schneider3Hydrogeography and Climatology research group, Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, GermanyHydrogeography and Climatology research group, Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, GermanyInstitute of Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, 50969 Cologne, GermanyHydrogeography and Climatology research group, Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany<p>Urban areas are particularly affected by climate change. Excessive heat waves, droughts and extreme precipitation events are the most detrimental meteorological events affecting cities and their population worldwide. Adaptation and mitigation measures must be specific for the given climatic, socio-economic and cultural conditions. To better understand differences in the natural and social environment and their effects upon climate adaptation strategies in humid and monsoon-driven climates, a densely distributed meteorological sensor network was established in an urban high-density neighbourhood in Pune, India, in 2023 for continuous long-term data collection (12 stations, 59 sensors) following the prototype network installed in the city of Cologne, Germany, in 2021 (14 stations, 58 sensors). Climate change mitigation and adaptation requires activation and participation of citizens. In order to connect the needs of research with citizen participation, it is essential (i) to provide quality-controlled microclimatic measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution; (ii) to provide a basis to analyse cause-and-effect relationships in a given urban microclimatic setting; (iii) to enable suitable climate change adaptation measures to be identified and the participation potential of stakeholders to be assessed; and (iv) to support the building of a community of learners, participants and activists towards becoming actively involved in climate change adaptation in their own living environment. The transferability and expandability of the approach requires that the measurement network must be affordable to facilitate citizen participation. Scientists can use the measurement data for example to validate physically based microclimate models like ENVI-met to simulate adaptation effects. The measurement locations of the standardized, low cost and expandable measurement network in Pune cover the full range of surface characteristics from vegetated parks to street canyons and from built-up inner courtyards to open areas, representing the heterogeneity of the microclimatic conditions within that study area. The similarity of the sensor network in both cities allows for comparison of the functionality of the system under different environmental conditions and assessment of stakeholder and citizen activation and participation in two different countries. Despite challenges arising from discontinuous power supply and radio signal interruptions due to sensor wetness during the rainy season in Pune, the data quality shows that the measurement setup is also suitable for tropical monsoon climates. Stakeholder participation was assessed by statistical analyses of the usage statistics of the NETATMO app by the citizen scientists. Significant differences in the number of app activities between Pune and Cologne were found. Despite differences in the form and intensity of active participation, citizens in both cities show great interest in getting involved in climate research and pathways for climate change adaptation, indicating the high potential of activating citizens in the transformative process towards climate-sensitive urban development.</p>https://jsss.copernicus.org/articles/14/13/2025/jsss-14-13-2025.pdf
spellingShingle N. Eingrüber
W. Korres
U. Löhnert
K. Schneider
Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems
title Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
title_full Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
title_fullStr Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
title_full_unstemmed Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
title_short Setup of a densely distributed and quality-controlled meteorological sensor network in Pune, India, for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
title_sort setup of a densely distributed and quality controlled meteorological sensor network in pune india for urban microclimate research and citizen participation in the context of climate change adaptation
url https://jsss.copernicus.org/articles/14/13/2025/jsss-14-13-2025.pdf
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