Human-environment interactions
Study 3: Climate change - Urban heat
Resource overview
This resource supports the Human-environment interactions - Study 3: Climate change topic for the Geography Year 11 course Geography 11–12 Syllabus (2022). This program focuses on the urban heat island effect (UHI).
Activities within this resource have been developed to introduce students to:
the concepts of urban heat islands (UHI), the factors that contribute to it, the challenges and the potential strategies that will shape more resilient cities
the City of Ryde Council 'Cool Places Cool Spaces' citizen science project, its purpose, targets and the methodologies and equipment that are used in the field to measure and assess urban heat and outdoor thermal comfort.
Post-fieldwork activities have also been included to support the processing, analysis and presentation of primary data collected during fieldwork (in development).
Geographic tools including photographs and links to external sources can also be used in post excursion activities and assessment.
Syllabus outcomes
Students:
GE-11-01 examines places, environments and natural and human phenomena, for their characteristics, spatial patterns, interactions and change over time
GE-11-02 explains geographical processes and influences at a range of scales that form and transform places and environments
GE-11-03 explains geographical opportunities and challenges, and varying perspectives and responses
GE-11-04 assesses responses and management strategies, at a range of scales, for sustainability
GE-11-06 identifies geographical methods used in geographical inquiry and their relevance in the contemporary world
GE-11-07 applies geographical inquiry skills and tools, including spatial technologies, fieldwork, and ethical practices, to investigate places and environments
Fieldwork context
Cities tend to be hotter than surrounding bushland and rural areas. This is known as the urban heat island effect (UHI). It is the result of complex interactions between the built environment and natural processes. Climate change is increasing the effects of the urban heat islands making higher temperatures and extreme hot weather events more severe and difficult to manage, placing people and the environment at risk.
Recognising the challenges and the need to mitigate the UHI effect on a local scale, the City of Ryde has partnered with the Field of Mars EEC in the Cool Places Cool Spaces citizen science project.
The City of Ryde is a local government area located in Sydney's north-western suburbs. It is approximately 10 kilometres from the centre of Sydney and has a population of 135,716 with a population density of 3,352 persons per square km (2023 ABS data).
The Cool Places Cool Spaces citizen science project will use methodologies and equipment designed by RMIT University Sustainable Building Innovation laboratory and UNSW Sydney Faculty of Built Environment High Performance Architecture to measure microclimate data.
The project continues to be supported by the UNSW Sydney Faculty of Built Environment High Performance Architecture. We thank Associate Professor Riccardo Paolini for his guidance during the implementation phase of this citizen science project.
The data collected during our fieldwork will be used by City of Ryde in environmental management, urban planning, social planning, economic development, parks planning and sustainability. It will support Council in achieving targets set in the Ryde Resilience Plan 2030 and to support community education around the impacts of heat, particularly on vulnerable members of the community and heat preparedness information.
Fieldwork investigations
During fieldwork, you will acquire primary data to answer the following questions:
How does the built environment impact natural processes that cause urban heat?
How do geographers measure the impact of urban heat on people and the environment?
What strategies could be implemented to address urban heat in Meadowbank?
Suggested learning sequence
Pre-fieldwork activities
Post-fieldwork activities
Additional resources
Wallumedegal Country
You will be conducting fieldwork on Wallumedegal (Wattamattagal) Country. The word Wattamattagal is derived from the black snapper fish. The clan's territory follows the north bank of the Parramatta River from Lane Cove in the east to Parramatta in the west.
We pay respect to Elders both past, present and emerging and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Read more about the Aboriginal history of Ryde here.
Lycett, Joseph, approximately 1775-1828 I National Library of Australia
About Field of Mars EEC
This resource was developed by the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre.
Centre staff are qualified teachers who specialise in environmental and outdoor education, fieldwork and sustainability.