UrbanClimate - role of traditional architecture in mitigating urban heat

On 6 November 2025, the Department of Geosciences at the University of Padua hosted the seminar UrbanClimate: Assessing the Impact of Traditional Buildings on UHIs in Historical Urban Centres Under Current and Future Climate Conditions, led by Prof. Charles Galdies from the Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta. He is a project partner of UrbanClimate together with Prof. JoAnn Cassar, Head of Department of Conservation and Built Heritage of the Faculty for the Built Environment.

The seminar showcased the innovative research behind the UrbanClimate project, which explores how traditional Mediterranean architecture can help reduce urban heat stress in the face of climate change.

Funded by the 2023 Space Research Fund of Xjenza Malta, the project builds on previous studies by the same team comparing the thermal performance of traditional multilayered roofs with modern alternatives in Malta. UrbanClimate has just completed its first research stage.

Prof. Galdies presented a methodology that combines novel satellite thermal data, UAV imagery, in-situ measurements and Artificial Intelligence tools to generate detailed thermal maps of historic urban centres. If successful, these AI downscaled maps are designed to assess whether the applied technologies can effectively demonstrate how architectural elements, particularly traditional roof structures, help mitigate heat at both the building and street scales.

The findings underscore the importance of preserving and integrating traditional design elements into future urban planning strategies.

The seminar drew interest from the University’s researchers and graduate students, sparking discussions on how heritage architecture can be leveraged to create climate-resilient cities. Attendees appreciated the interdisciplinary approach and the potential for applying these insights across other Mediterranean contexts.

This event forms part of a broader interest by the Department of Geosciences of the University of Padua to foster collaborative research addressing pressing environmental challenges. It has been ranked among the top 150 globally in Earth & Marine Sciences, Geology, and Geophysics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.