Barcelona, like many modern cities, experiences the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where built-up areas retain more heat than surrounding natural landscapes. This interactive map visualizes temperature variations across the city, highlighting areas most affected by heat buildup.
🛰️ What This Map Shows:
📍 Heat Hotspots – Areas with high surface temperatures due to dense construction and limited greenery.
🌳 Cooler Zones – Parks, tree-lined streets, and waterfront areas that help reduce heat.
⚠️ Vulnerable Areas – Neighborhoods most at risk during heatwaves, where cooling interventions are needed.
🌡️ [Why] It Matters:
Extreme heat impacts public health, especially for vulnerable populations.Green spaces and urban design can mitigate heat and improve city livability.Understanding heat distribution helps in planning climate-resilient cities.
🔥 [What] is the Impact of Urban Heat on Health & Well-Being
Extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it can have serious effects on physical and mental health. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect increases temperatures in cities, leading to a range of health issues, especially for vulnerable populations.
- ⚠️ How Heat Affects Us:
- 😴 Insomnia – High nighttime temperatures make it harder to fall and stay asleep.
- 😵 Confusion & Lack of Concentration – Heat can impair cognitive function, leading to mental fatigue.
- 😰 Stress & Anxiety – Heat exposure increases cortisol levels, intensifying stress.
- 💧 Dehydration – Excessive sweating without proper hydration can lead to serious complications.
- ❤️🔥 Worsening of Preexisting Conditions – Those with heart disease, respiratory issues, or diabetes are at higher risk.
- 🚨 Heat Stroke – Prolonged exposure can lead to dangerous overheating, requiring immediate medical attention.
🌍 [Why] This Matters for Cities Like Barcelona?
Rising temperatures due to climate change are making cities hotter every year.Urban areas with limited greenery and excess concrete absorb and retain more heat.Understanding these effects helps inform better urban planning for a cooler, healthier city.
👥 [Who] Is Most Vulnerable to Extreme Heat?
Heat affects everyone, but certain groups are at a significantly higher risk. The most vulnerable populations include:
🚸 Children & 👵 Elderly Individuals
- Their bodies struggle to regulate temperature efficiently, making them more susceptible to heat stress.
- Extreme temperatures can disrupt sleep, impair cognitive function, and exacerbate preexisting conditions.
- Young children may not communicate discomfort effectively, while older adults often have reduced physiological responses to heat.
❤️🩹 People with Long-Term Health Conditions
- Chronic illnesses like heart disease, respiratory conditions, and diabetes can worsen due to prolonged heat exposure.
- Medications may alter body temperature regulation, increasing vulnerability.
- This group often overlaps with children and the elderly, compounding the risk.
👐 The Hidden Vulnerable Group: Caregivers
While direct outreach to primary vulnerable groups isn’t always possible, we identified caregivers as a crucial bridge between them and support services.
- Caregiving is largely informal, making it difficult to track and support.
- According to municipal data, 89.4% of elderly individuals receiving care do so informally, relying on:
- Family members, friends, and neighbors
- Volunteers and immigrant workers
- Unpaid or underpaid caregivers without formal contracts
- Caregiving is highly time-demanding, leaving caregivers at risk of heat-related stress and exhaustion themselves.
🔍 Research & Insights: Understanding the Caregiver Experience
At the start of our research, we conducted interviews to gain a deeper understanding of caregivers’ daily lives and challenges. However, as the study progressed, we found that traditional interviews were not as effective as we had initially anticipated. Time constraints and the complexity of caregiving experiences made it difficult to capture the full picture.
To adapt, we turned to virtual interviews, which provided valuable insights into the realities caregivers face.
👤 Graciela’s Story: A Caregiver’s Perspective
“Graciela cared for both her grandmother and mother, who lived with muscular dystrophy. When she moved to Spain, she continued caregiving and found support through ‘Cuidadanas’—a community that helped her strengthen her skills as a carer while also prioritizing her own well-being. She emphasizes the importance of building mutually supportive relationships among caregivers, as emotional support is just as vital as practical assistance.”
This experience highlights the critical need for caregiver networks—both formal and informal—that provide resources, emotional support, and skill-building opportunities.
⚠️ The Hidden Toll on Caregivers
According to Fundación Farmaindustria, a staggering 85% of caregivers experience burnout syndrome, and 39% feel unprepared for their role. This lack of support and training leads to significant health risks, including:
Increased vulnerability to illness
Chronic stress and anxiety
Physical exhaustion and sleep deprivation
Caregivers need a tool that helps them provide better care while supporting their own well-being. Existing resources for managing heat are often hard to access, and current time management tools fail to account for the complexity of caregiver daily dynamics.
This tool should allow caregivers to [organize] their time and responsibilities [based on heat and climate conditions], [coordinate caregiving duties] more effectively, and access [real-time updates] and shared calendars. By improving planning and communication, caregivers can have easier access to tips and connect with a [community] facing similar challenges.
Existing solutions
Today, the municipality has created a map of public spaces that serve as climate shelters when needed. Although it is quite comprehensive, access to it is not very user-friendly.
Additionally, there is a caregiver’s card that provides free access to workshops and informative sessions.
We believe that combining these two existing programs into a user-friendly interface (plus additional features) could significantly ease the challenges caregivers face.
Introducing the Ultimate Personal & Community Organizer: A Smart Way to Manage Your Day, Connect with Others, and Stay Safe
In today’s fast-paced world, balancing daily tasks, staying connected with others, and ensuring personal well-being can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a cutting-edge app designed to organize your life, support your caregiving role, and help you navigate the world with ease, all while staying connected with a like-minded community.
What Makes Our App Stand Out?
Our app is more than just a calendar or a community space. It’s a personal assistant, support network, and navigation tool all rolled into one, using AI and smart technology to make your day-to-day life easier and more manageable.
Smart Planner with AI-powered scheduling
Community Hub Connect with like-minded users AI-driven Recommendations for events & heat solutions.
Live Map with real-time ambience & heat-related info
Here’s a look at the core features that make our app unique and effective:
Personalized Calendar & Prioritization
We know how hard it is to juggle multiple tasks, meetings, and appointments. That’s why our app offers a multi-calendar system where you can create different calendars for work, personal life, caregiving, and more. The Priority View helps you focus only on the most important events and reminders for the day, decluttering your schedule and giving you a clearer sense of what’s essential.
Key Features:
- Create and manage multiple calendars for different aspects of life.
- View only high-priority events and tasks with the Priority Mode.
- AI-powered smart categorization to help you see what’s urgent and important.
- A minimalist, distraction-free layout to maximize productivity.
Community-Driven Connection
It’s not just about managing your time; it’s about connecting with people who share your values and interests. Our app offers a community space where users can join interest-based groups, support networks, and events tailored to their needs. Whether you’re a caregiver looking for support, or someone wanting to connect with others in your industry, our app’s community feature helps you find meaningful relationships.
Key Features:
- Join groups based on your caregiving role, interests, or profession.
- Discover and attend community events or create your own.
- Connect with peers in meaningful ways, either via chat or group discussions.
- Access support groups specifically for caregivers, with resources, webinars, and mentorship.
AI-Powered Personal Assistant
Time management has never been easier. With the AI-powered assistant, our app intelligently suggests events, tasks, and support groups based on your preferences and activities. It helps you stay organized by learning from your routine and providing personalized recommendations for upcoming events or essential tasks. Need help with time management? The AI can even suggest ways to optimize your schedule or help prioritize tasks based on urgency.
Key Features:
- Personalized event recommendations based on your location, interests, and schedule.
- Smart suggestions for support groups and community interactions.
- Time management tips to help optimize your daily routine.
- Trending topics & discussions to keep you informed and engaged with relevant content.
Climate-Aware Navigation for Comfort & Safety
We all know how important it is to stay safe and comfortable while navigating the outdoors. Our app features a climate-aware map that shows you where to find climate shelters, public facilities, water fountains, refreshment options, and tree shade along your route. Whether you’re exploring a new area or running errands, this map helps you stay hydrated, cool, and safe by providing valuable, real-time information about your surroundings.
Key Features:
- Climate shelters to keep you safe during extreme weather conditions.
- Access to public facilities, including restrooms and seating areas.
- Water fountains and refreshment options along your route for hydration.
- Tree shade and green spaces to help you stay cool and comfortable.
- AI-powered itineraries that adjust based on your needs and real-time conditions.
Why Choose Our App?
Our app isn’t just a tool! It’s a companion in your daily life, designed to enhance your productivity, connect you with others, and help you thrive in a world of constant change. Whether you’re managing personal tasks, caregiving duties, or navigating a busy social calendar, our app is designed to adapt to your needs, keeping you organized and well-connected at all times.
