Walking is one of the most recommended physical activities by doctors, especially for those who do not engage in much exercise. However, doing so in the summer on the streets of cities, especially in their central areas, can be a dangerous task for certain groups. Who hasn't suddenly felt the effects of a heatstroke? The heat in cities is not only present in their central … [Read more...] about How to identify heat islands in cities? Discover URSA, the new intelligent software from the IDB
URSA: A Tool to Guide Urban Planning with Satellite Data
The way our cities are designed and planned significantly impacts our quality of life. Whether we are aware of it or not, factors such as commute time, access to parks and green areas, availability of schools, and pedestrian zones all contribute to our well-being. So, why not leverage all available means to enhance our cities? At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), we … [Read more...] about URSA: A Tool to Guide Urban Planning with Satellite Data
Monitoring the city with drones: Artificial Intelligence in environmental management
When we talk about artificial intelligence, we often think of it as a revolutionary and novel concept that has just arrived in our lives. However, this term was first used almost seventy years ago, in 1955 to be more precise, by John McCarthy in a workshop at Dartmouth University in the United States. Nevertheless, it is in the last decade that we have witnessed a true … [Read more...] about Monitoring the city with drones: Artificial Intelligence in environmental management
2023 World Cities Day: the Amazonian Cities Forum and its role in the sustainable development of the region
On the occasion of World Cities Day, celebrated on October 31st, we want to shed light on a relatively lesser-known and explored facet of urban life in the region: Amazonian cities. While the Amazon is renowned as the world's largest rainforest, it's often overlooked that it's also home to a highly urbanized population. The majority of its people reside in towns, settlements, … [Read more...] about 2023 World Cities Day: the Amazonian Cities Forum and its role in the sustainable development of the region
Eight strategies to adapt our cities to climate change
Cities are critically vulnerable to climate change. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change, cities are already facing the growing risks of water scarcity, sea level rise, and extreme weather events such as heat waves and floods. These climate events increase mortality and morbidity, cause asset and economic losses, … [Read more...] about Eight strategies to adapt our cities to climate change