Does Urban Green Space Mitigate Emergency Department Cases During Heat Waves?
Funded by Environmental Institute, University of Virginia, USA
- Topics: Big data analytics, meta-analysis, geospatial health modelling, environmental epidemiology, climate health
- Tasks: Data curation, data analysis, data visualization, cartography, code management
- Tools: R, RMarkdown, Git, GNU Make
Ongoing project
This project investigates whether urban green spaces can reduce health risks during periods of extreme heat. The study analyzes emergency department visits in Richmond MSA, Virginia to assess whether residents of greener neighborhoods experience fewer heat-related health emergencies.
The study integrates de-identified patient-level health data from Virginia’s All-Payer Claims Database with ERA5-Land reanalysis climate data and detailed landscape metrics. Rather than relying on simple measures of greenness, the study evaluates multiple characteristics of green spaces, including their size, shape, connectivity, and spatial distribution across neighborhoods.
The results are intended to inform urban planning and public health strategies by identifying where investments in trees, parks, and other green infrastructure could most effectively reduce heat-related health risks. By highlighting both vulnerable communities and the types of green spaces that offer the strongest protection, the project aims to support healthier, more climate-resilient cities.
