WBGT Heat Mapping Project

Mapping Urban Heat with Citizen Science

This summer, the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC) is launching an exciting citizen science initiative to better understand how heat impacts our local communities. Along with our dedicated volunteers, we are collecting high-resolution heat data across Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and South Durham. Our goal is to capture the fine-scale variations in heat exposure that residents experience on a daily basis, as well as during extreme heat events.

As we collect on-the-ground temperature and humidity data, the research team at SERCC will be incorporating these data into an advanced machine learning (random forest) model. This model will produce detailed heat exposure maps with a resolution of 10 meters (~33 feet), offering greater insight into how heat is distributed across our neighborhoods, parks, schools, streets, greenways, and other public spaces.

This blog will serve as our central hub for sharing progress, publishing the latest maps, and providing updates about the project at least once a week. It’s also a space for engagement. We invite you to comment, ask questions, and follow along as we work together to build more heat-resilient communities.