The Municipality of Porto has invested strategically in the Campanhã area, which represents 19.4% of the total municipal area and is home to 13.7% of the total population, some of whom are vulnerable. In general, the green spaces in Campanhã are poor at providing ecological services, with a very fragmented territory (topographical barriers and major road and rail infrastructures). The Municipality of Porto has, therefore, boosted the east of the city by participating in European projects, including “LIFE My Building is Green”, “H2020 URBiNAT (Urban Innovative & Inclusive Nature – Healthy Corridor as drivers of housing neighborhoods for the co-creation of social, environmental and marketable NBS” and now NBRACER, to improve population quality of life while promoting climate resilience.
The CommuniCity challenge arises from the need of Porto Municipality to seek a solution to measure and assess thermal variations, through strategic distribution of thermal sensors across different areas and a platform to measure and assess thermal variations, followed by proposed solutions to increase climate well-being in the area.
The project area is the NBRACER demo site – Quinta de Salgueiros – and includes open areas, woodland (dense and sparse), clearings, paved areas, and unpaved areas. This large-scale thermal assessment aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how planting designs influence temperature changes.
The piloting phase will involve a comprehensive site assessment on thermal behaviour using sensors and public input on thermal perception. A Virtual Learning Lab will be established for continuous observation, allowing residents to participate and learn from the project, empowering them to make informed decisions.
Community involvement is vital, as residents will benefit from improved thermal resilience. By focusing on urban thermal management through native trees and green spaces, we aim to show how collective action and local knowledge can create a more sustainable and
