Heat sensors project to cool Campbelltown’s suburbs

Council has partnered with Western Sydney University to launch a heat sensors project to measure the temperature in 110 locations across our city over summer and develop ways to cool our suburbs.

The sensors are being installed in trees in a grid pattern across our Local Government Area to collect temperature information at 10 minute intervals over a three-month period, until February 2019.

The data captured by the heat sensors will provide accurate and detailed information that will be used to develop and update policies aimed at reducing the heat in urban areas, make our climate more comfortable for residents to live in and improve the local environment.

Mayor George Brticevic said the sensors were being placed primarily in trees or on Council infrastructure at a height of at least 3m throughout parks, laneways, median strips, roads and nature strips outside private properties including homes.

“This is an important initiative that will provide us with the critical data to help us understand the impact of heat across our city and find ways to reduce it in the long-term so our suburbs are cooler in summer and more comfortable to live in,’’ Cr Brticevic said.

“We want to find ways to reduce the heat generated in our urban areas and in doing so, create a truly sustainable place to live and visit. This initiative will help us to understand what we can do to make a difference,” he said.

“I would like to thank the residents and the broader community who are already supporting this project by agreeing to accommodate sensors on their property.’’

Researchers from Western Sydney University will use the data collected from the heat sensors to generate detailed day and night time temperature graphs and examine heatwave events and their impact.

The researchers will also develop maps of temperature distribution across Campbelltown City as well as streaming video clips depicting the daily evolution of temperature changes.

The results of the data analysis will provide Council staff with localised temperature maps which will be used to develop new and updated policies and interventions to reduce urban heat in Campbelltown’s suburbs.

The project is in line with the Resilient Sydney strategy which is designed to help communities across the Sydney region survive, adapt and thrive in response to challenges such as the heat levels in urban areas.