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In this video you will learn about how planning practitioners can use the urban climate model PALM-4U for their planning questions.



In this video you will learn about how the urban climate model PALM-4U can support planning practitioners.



Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Dresden

On 27th September, 2022, the last individual workshop of service user practice partners with the city of Dresden took place. ProPolis scientists investigated the application case “Development of the Cockerwiese” and simulated the thermal comfort and cold air balance with the PALM-4U model. During the ExLab they presented the simulation results which showed to what extent the new building development impacts the inner city urban heat island compared with the current situation. Afterwards the participants from different disciplines discussed about application of nesting features (child domain Cockerwiese and parent domain of surrounding area with different resolution), quality of input data and the integration of simulation results in municipal planning processes. The city of Dresden could imagine applying the model by themselves in the future with the help of different user guides and recommendations.


ProPolis_Workshop Dresden (2022)

Picture: PALM-4U Ergebnisse – Dresden Cockerwiese current situation of recirculating air flow 50 m above the surface;
© GEO-NET Umweltconsulting GmbH 2022


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the engineering company Sweco

On 20th September, 2022, further workshop of assisted practice partners took place with the engineering and planning company Sweco GmbH. The representatives of Sweco presented their PALM-4U simulation results that they have created with the help of the new graphical user interface. They investigated the new urban development surrounded by large open spaces for the city of Hildesheim. Sweco was one of the non-municipal practice partners that acts as a contractor of different municipalities for urban climatological studies. The perspective of a planning company brought new perspectives to the operationalization of PALM-4U. The question of self-application after the end of the project from the view of Sweco depends on demand and financial prerequisites.


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Munich

The first individual workshop of assisted practice partners took place on 13th September, 2022, with the city of Munich. Representatives from the department Climate and Environment Protection of Munich presented their PALM-4U application case “Renovation of Moosach neighborhood” and showed the simulation results for thermal comfort and cold-air balance. They applied the new graphical user interface for the whole workflow from input data preparation to simulation and creation of result plots. Afterwards the participants discussed about what prerequisites should be created for self-application in municipal planning after the end of the project. The results of the workshop will feed into the evaluation of the model practicability and contribute to the continuation strategy.


Info-Mail #5, June 2022

Please read our Info-Mail #5 – ProPolis-project update for the summer 2022.

ProPolis Info-Mail #5, June 2022 (in German) (1,9 MB)


Online-workshop “Individual Planning of the ExLabs for Assisted Users”

On 13th of June 2022 ProPolis scientists have met virtually with practice partners from seven municipalities that are applying urban climate model PALM-4U by themselves (“assisted users”). After communicating the requirements to practice partners and discussing pending tasks and responsibilities, participants have set individual action plans for the coming ExLab-workshops.


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Remscheid

On 2nd of June 2022 an individual workshop with the practice partner city Remscheid took place as an online event. The city of Remscheid proposed ProPolis scientists to investigate a climatological question of modelling the future climate for the entire city for the years 2031-2060. ProPolis modelers applied the urban climate model PALM-4U to simulate this application case and presented the simulation results to practice partners in the ExLab. For this application case a threshold “Hot day” was used to model the cold air balance and thermal comfort under current conditions and compare it with a climate change scenario in a near future. In particular, focus areas such as a river dam or a special hilltop location of the city showed some interesting simulation results.

In the end, the participants from different disciplines discussed the integration of simulation results in municipal planning processes and shared their views on continuation of PALM-4U services after the end of the project.

ProPolis_ExLab_Remscheid

Picture: PALM-4U simulation results – air temperature in comparison “Current situation” (left) and “Close future” (right). © GEO-NET Umweltconsulting GmbH 2022


Second PALM-4U training module “Thermal comfort and cold-air balance”

ProPolis_Ergebnisdarstellung auf der PALM-4U GUI

Picture: Result representation in PALM-4U GUI © Fraunhofer IBP 2022

In the second training module “Thermal comfort and cold air balance” that took place on 31st of May and 1st of June 2022 the practice partners have learned which PALM-4U setup has to be applied in the GUI and what configuration options exist. That concerns meteorological boundary conditions, output time lapse and parameters. Furthermore, information on application of other data sources such as longtime DWD-measurements for derivation of boundary conditions was presented. Results of thermal comfort and cold air balance simulations were assessed exemplarily and participants could carry out their first simulations.


European Geosciences Union General Assembly EGU‘2022

Findings from ProPolis project were presented on 25th of May 2022 at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly EGU‘2022 in the virtual session “Urban climate, urban biometeorology, and science tools for cities”. The abstract “Case study simulation of the green infrastructure influence on heat stress with urban climate model PALM-4U.”, Reinbold et al. is available here:

Case study simulation of the green infrastructure influence on heat stress with urban climate model PALM-4U


RegIKlim-Conference

On 11th and 12th of May 2022 the second status conference within the BMBF funding program RegIKlim took place in Halle (Saale). ProPolis project coordinator Dr. Cortekar presented the project in a workshop session “Knowledge translation: from climate and assessment models to practical information”. The participants have learned about experiences of ensuring the model practicability and operationalization of climate services on the example of urban climate model PALM-4U. Following, they discussed the possible barriers on the way to continuation of different climate services in municipal work processes.

Furthermore, an information poster about ProPolis project was presented during the conference.

ProPolis: Info-poster on RegIKlim Status Conference (in German) (2,1 MB)


In this short video you will learn about ProPolis-project, its‘ goals and workflows as well as products for practical application to be developed (in German).


Watch the ProPolis video (50,6 MB)


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Essen

ProPolis_Masterplan_ESSEN51

Picture: Masterplan ESSEN 51. Source: https://www.thelen-gruppe.com/essen51/

The individual ExLab with the practice partner city of Essen took place on 25th of April 2022. Representatives from different municipal departments, regional association Ruhr (RVR) and German meteorological service (DWD) took part in this online-workshop with the topic “Investigation of the thermal comfort in the newly planned district ESSEN51”. The goal of this ExLab was to discuss the integration of simulation results in the planning practice and think through the potential for self-application of PALM-4U model.

For this, ProPolis scientists investigated how construction of ESSEN51 and climate adaptation measures could affect local heat stress. In the first part of the workshop they presented the urban climate model PALM-4U, the application case and simulation results. Three comparable simulations were conducted: current situation before construction and two scenarios of ESSEN51 (1) with little and (2) with more climate adaptation measures. The participants have learned to what extent shading measures e.g. densely planted trees, green façades as well as green areas and water bodies could influence the air temperature and thermal comfort on a hot summer day.

Following, the participants from different disciplines discussed the integration of simulation results in municipal planning processes and shared their views on continuation of PALM-4U services after the end of the project.


Online-workshop of PALM-4U Community of Practice (CoP)

More than 70 participants took part in an online-workshop of PALM-4U Community of Practice on 5th of April 2022. In the first part of the meeting representatives from engineering company Lohmeyer, German meteorological service (DWD) and ProPolis consortium presented their experiences with PALM-4U, its’ planned application and already conducted simulation results. In the second part participants discussed the networking possibilities and continuation of Community of practice after the end of the project. During these vivid discussions it became clear that there is a big interest in continuity of the CoP beyond the project and that the CoP plays an important role in the continuation strategy.


Midterm-meeting of practice partners

Representatives from 11 practice partner cities, 5 consortium partners (GERICS, Difu, Fraunhofer IBP, GEO-NET und TU Dortmund /sfs) as well as coordinators from the funding program “Urban Climate Under Change-2” met in a 4,5-hour long virtual workshop. The focus of this workshop was on presentation of the project status, exemplary modelling results and discussion of continuation approaches.


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Hamburg

ProPolis_Visualisierung_HH-Oberbillwerder

Picture: Visualization of the planned urban district Oberbillwerder. Source: Masterplan 2019 von IBA-Hamburg, p. 19.

The individual ExLab with the practice partner city of Hamburg took place on 28th of March 2022. Twelve representatives from various municipal departments and districts took part in this online-workshop with the topic “Wind comfort investigation in the southern train station area of Hamburg-Oberbillwerder”. The goal of this meeting was to discuss the integration of simulation results in the planning practice and think through the potential for self-application of PALM-4U model.

ProPolis modelers applied PALM-4U model to investigate the wind comfort situation in the newly planned district Hamburg-Oberbillwerder on the basis of VDI-guidelines. In the first part of the workshop they presented the urban climate model PALM-4U, the application case and simulation results. The participants have learned which wind comfort classes are to be expected in the train station area with relatively high building density and height and if certain usage could be affected by the higher wind speeds.

Following, the participants from different disciplines discussed the integration of simulation results in municipal planning processes and shared their views on continuation of PALM-4U services after the end of the project.


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Berlin Blankenburger Süden

ProPolis_Nutzungskonzept_Berlin-Blankenburger Süden

Picture: Structure and land use concept for the neu urban quarter in Berlin Blankenburger Süden. Draft, April 2021; Map: SenStadtWohn, DSK, PFE, gruppe F, LK Argus

The individual ExLab with the practice partner city of Berlin took place on 17th of March 2022. More than 25 representatives from various municipal departments and districts took part in this online-workshop with the topic “Thermal comfort in the new urban district Berlin Blankenburger Süden”. The goal of this meeting was to discuss the integration of innovative simulation results in the planning practice and find out the improvement potentials of PALM-4U model.

ProPolis modelers applied PALM-4U model to investigate the day and night situation for forecast year 2030 under current conditions (without new urban district) and with a planning scenario for the new urban district. In the first part of the workshop they presented comparison of simulation results for the thermal comfort situation with and without new urban district on the area of 150 ha where cold air is currently being generated. With the help of maps and comparable indicators the participants found out about climatic impact of the planning scenario under forecasted climate change conditions.

Following, the participants discussed the integration of simulation results in municipal planning processes in two breakout groups. The results of the workshop will feed into the evaluation of the model practicability.


First PALM-4U training module “Preparation of input data”

On 09th and 10th of February the first virtual PALM-4U training for the practice partners took place. The goal of this two-day training module was to familiarize the partner cities with the basics of input data preparation for the urban climate model PALM-4U.

On the first day ProPolis scientists presented the newly developed graphical user interface (GUI) and the PALM input data format “static driver”. On the second day the participants have learned to create “static driver” by themselves with the help of step-by-step video instructions. For this, they applied the newly developed software tools for the first time: QGIS plugin “PALMClassify” and the PALM-4U GUI. During this practical exercise, practice partners also tested freshly launched PALM-4U Service desk. In addition, they could directly clarify their questions with ProPolis experts and give their first feedback in a virtual Q&A session.

In the next training modules the practice partners will learn the entire workflow with PALM-4U GUI and gradually build up their capacities in independent model application. The PALM-4U GUI and the Service desk will be tested under real-life settings and further developed.

ProPolis Schulung PALM-4U GUI

Picture: Newly developed tools for preparation of input data.
© Fraunhofer IBP


Announcement – ProPolis-interim workshop and Community of Practice workshop

Two workshops are planned in April 2022 within ProPolis project:

- 04th of April 2022 - ProPolis-Interim-workshop with ProPolis partner cities

- 05th of April 2022 - Community of Practice-workshop with external users of PALM-4U and ProPolis partner cities

These two workshops are planned to be in Köln, but due to pandemic situation, they might happen as online-events. The detailed program and further procedures will be announced in February.

You can register on our online-forum https://www.propolis-palm-4u.de/ in order to get more information about PALM-4U model and to stay informed about upcoming events.


Online-workshop ExLab “On-site” with the city of Leipzig

The first ExLab “On-site” with the topic “Urban climate adaptation measures in Leipzig East – potentials, chances and limitations” took place on 11th of January. Nearly 30 participants from various municipal departments of Leipzig took part in this virtual workshop. The main goal of this event was to test the handling of novel modeling results in the multidisciplinary planning practice and thereby to work out the indications for improvement of the urban climate model PALM-4U.

In this regard, ProPolis modelers simulated different urban climate measures in a thermally stressed neighborhood to investigate the thermal comfort situation. The participants learned about the application case and the simulation results for the comparison of existing situation with multiple planning scenarios. These included the potential climatic impact of new buildings and redevelopment in existing urban quarters, consequences of surface sealing, tree felling, as well as façade and roof greening.

Following the participants discussed the integration of simulation results in the municipal planning processes. The feedback about the practical applicability varied among the participants. The results of this workshop will flow into the model practicability evaluation.


Info-Mail #4 December 2021

Please read our Info-Mail #4 – ProPolis-project update for the end of the year 2021. (In German)
ProPolis Info-Mail #4 December 2021 (447 KB)


Online-workshop ExLab “Green Infrastructure under climate change”

On 07th of December the thematic virtual workshop with ProPolis practice partners took place. The focus of this workshop was climate change-induced shifts in the urban green infrastructure. Firstly, Guido Halbig from DWD (Deutsche Wetterdienst) gave an introductory input on the physiological impacts of climate change on the urban green. Afterwards, cities of Berlin, Essen, Hamburg and Remscheid presented their best practice examples of green infrastructure for climate change adaptation. Also innovative green adaptation measures Bürgerwolke Soest and Tiny Forest were presented.

Furthermore, practice partners were informed about the status quo for measuring impacts of green infrastructure and possibilities of PALM-4U usage in the municipalities. In small working groups the participants exchanged their experiences about what green adaptation measures are being implemented currently and how the impact assessment of these measures takes place in the municipal planning practice.

Hochaufgelöste Vegetation in PALM-4U GEO-NET Umweltconsulting GmbH

Picture: High-resolution vegetation in PALM-4U© GEO-NET Umweltconsulting GmbH


Online-workshop ExLab F “Wind comfort”

On 04th of November the thematic virtual workshop with ProPolis practice partners took place. In the beginning, ProPolis experts gave an introductory talk about implementation methods of wind comfort according to VDI-standard 3787 Blatt 4 (“Methods for describing and evaluating strong and weak winds in built-up areas”) and presented the workflow of the urban climate model PALM-4U for determining the wind discomfort in public spaces. As an example, an urban neighborhood in Berlin was chosen. Additionally, the participants got familiar with the implementation of the wind comfort on the graphical user interface. As in the previous ExLabs, practice partners had a chance to discuss and exchange ideas among each other and with the ProPolis consortium.

Screenshot of the virtual talk in the ExLab “Wind comfort” © GERICS

Screenshot of the virtual talk in the ExLab “Wind comfort” © GERICS


Online-workshop ExLab “Climate change scenarios for cities Remscheid and Solingen under consideration of the last IPCC report”.

On 06th of October the thematic ExLab about climate change scenarios for cities Remscheid and Solingen took place as an online-event. This ExLab was organized in a special format: the team of ProPolis modellers advised the representatives of the practice partner cities Solingen and Remscheid within a live discussion about the most reasonable climate change scenarios for their PALM-4U application cases. Other practice partners took part as listeners to find out more about the new IPCC findings.

In the beginning, Guido Halbig from German Weather Service (DWD) gave a short introduction about the aspects of climate change that can be important for the cities and municipalities in the future. Afterwards, the ProPolis team and practice partners from Solingen and Remscheid discussed to what extent and under which climate change scenarios the new findings can be considered in both application cases, as well as how to choose a summer day for simulating the thermal stress.

ProPolis Klimaaenderungssignal DWD ReSoKlima2100

Projected changes in the near and distant future according to the climate change pathways. Source: DWD, ReSoKlima2100, Table 3-1, P. 42


International Transdisciplinarity Conference 2021 “Creating spaces and cultivating mindsets for learning and experimentation.”

The project ProPolis was presented at the International Transdisciplinarity Conference in the poster session „Transdisciplinarity on-the-ground” on 15th of September 2021.

Poster Where science meets the user

Poster “Where science meets the user. Living lab method to support the co-development of the new urban climate model PALM-4U”. © Kriuger, A., Dankwart-Kammoun, S., Heese, I.


Info-Mail #3 June 2021

Please read our Info-Mail #3 – ProPolis-project midterm update. (In German)
ProPolis Info-Mail #3 (686 KB)


[UC]2-Midterm meeting (online)

Following the BMBF networking event, the mid-term meeting of the entire [UC]2 funding measure took place online on 17-18th of June 2021. On the first day, all modules MOSAIK-2, 3DO+M and ProPolis presented the status of their work packages. On the second day, the participants discussed in the cross-module virtual breakout sessions and in the plenary session about model evaluation, data management / the graphical user interface and the requirements for scientific and practice-oriented continuation strategy.

The documentation is available to the project participants on the Knowledge Base


Networking workshop (online) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) “Digitally dealing with heat”

On the 16th of June 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research together with the funding organization DLR and the funding measure “Urban Climate Under Change” [UC]2 organized a virtual networking workshop within the framework of the BMBF strategy "Research for Sustainability" (FONA) and the BMBF-Digital strategy. The meeting with approx. 80 participants from science, local administration and politics aimed at the critical exchange about the previous and future possible use of digital tools for municipal adaptation climate change.

Besides the joint projects of the [UC]2 funding measure MOSAIK-2, 3DO+M and ProPolis, other research projects such as ISAP (Integrative city-regional adaptation strategies in a polycentric growth region: model region Stuttgart), SMARTilience (management model for a climate-resilient smart city with living labs in Halle (Saale) und Mannheim) and Green City of the Future (Climate-resilient quarters in a growing city) have presented their work. Afterwards the possible needs, strategies, solution approaches but also obstacles for the use of digital tools in municipal practice were discussed in the digital breakout groups.

The press release and presentations are available on the [UC]2-website (in German)
Press release and presentations

Screenshot ProPolis Gruppenbild der TeilnehmerInnen. Ausschnitt aus dem Publikum der Online-Veranstaltung.

Participants of the networking event (part of the audience) © A. Baumgärtner / DLR PT 2021


Interview with [UC]2-coordinator (in German)

Please read the interview with the coordinator of the funding measure [UC]2, Professor Dieter Scherer at the TU Berlin, about the climatic challenges and the PALM-4U urban climate model: “Urban climate model helps cities in adaptation to climate change”


Online-workshop Exlab vor external Stakeholders

In order to expand the Community of Practice (CoP), an introductory and networking meeting took place on June 10, 2021 for the external parties, who are already working with the urban climate PALM-4U or who are interested in using it in the future. In the first part of the event, the representatives of the joint projects ProPolis, MOSAIK-2 and 3DO+M from the BMBF project “Urban Climate Under Change” [UC]2 presented their work. After a break, during which the participants could ask questions to the speakers and the ProPolis consortium in a padlet chat, experiences from practical work with the PALM-4U were reported. At the end of the workshop, there was a brief introduction to the new PALM-4U graphical user interface. Many participants outside of the project registered in the ProPolis discussion forum https://www.propolis-palm-4u.de/ before and after the event, so that the CoP continues to grow.

Screenshot Ausschnitt ProPolis-Diskussionsforum

Excerpt ProPolis online forum. Source: TU Dortmund/sfs 2021


Virtual conference of the European Geosciences Union – vEGU General Assembly 2021

Poster EGU 2021

Poster “Innovative urban climate model PALM-4U as a support tool for municipal climate adaptation strategies”. © Kriuger, A., Reinbold, A., Cortekar, J. / GERICS

The project ProPolis was presented at the virtual vEGU – General Assembly 2021 organized by the European Geosciences Union in the poster session 'Urban climate, urban biometeorology, and science tools for cities' on the 27th of April 2021. The abstract is available here: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU21/EGU21-12563.html


Online-workshop ExLab E – Input data processing and new graphical user interface (GUI)

On March 25, 2021, the fifth thematic ExLab took place as an online event with the topic "Input data processing and graphical user interface (GUI)". The aim of the ExLab was to inform the practice partners about the status of the GUI development and to obtain their feedback for further GUI development according to the user needs. The ExLab was designed as an interactive workshop. In the beginning, a practical example of input data processing for a PALM-4U application case was presented, followed by a question and answer session. In the next part, ProPolis experts showed the user interface in a live translation. The questions and feedback from practice partners was gathered through virtual padlets and subsequently discussed in two groups. For example, the practice partners were introduced to the processing of the input data of an application for use in PALM-4U in an input block with a subsequent question and answer session. This was followed by the presentation of the GUI concept with a live presentation of the GUI. Following the input block, the practice partners were given time in a padlet based on key questions to give their feedback on the GUI and to express development requests. The padlets were then discussed in two groups.

ProPolis Landeshauptstadt München – Kommunalreferat – GeodatenService 2020

Excerpt graphical user interface ©Fraunhofer IBP 2021, Data: © Landeshauptstadt München (2020 & 2021); Plots and buildings: © Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung (2020)


12. German Climate Conference (Deutsche Klimatagung) (Online)

The project ProPolis was presented at the virtual 12. German Climate Conference on 16th of March 2021 in the session “Climate protection and adaptation”. The Abstract can be found here: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/DKT-12/DKT-12-24.html (in German)

The recorded presentation is available on the TIB AV-Portal .


Online-workshop Exlab D - concept of ExLabs „on-site“

On February 25, 2021, the practice partners and the project consortium met online for the fourth thematic ExLab to get to know the format of the “ExLabs on site” and to obtain feedback for the implementation of these events. The aim of the ExLabs on site will be to collect information for the evaluation of the practicablity of PALM-4U in order to be able to further improve the model with regard to this requirement. For assisted self-users, this concerns the operation of the model with the help of the graphical user interface. In the case of service users, the use of the modeling results is a particular focus. These are to be presented to a broad group of colleagues on site for the first time and then discussed. The project team would like to get feedback from as many departments as possible, who (can) work with the modeling results.

ProPolis Abfrageergebnisse Erwartungen an die Veranstaltung

Mentimeter-question about the expectations of the on-site ExLab workshops. Source: Difu.


Info-Mail #2 December 2020

Please read our Info-Mail #2 – ProPolis-project update – one year passed! (in German) ProPolis Info-Mail #2 (400 KB)


Online-workshop Exlab C – Trainings, services and support

The third thematic ExLab took place on November 26th 2020 as an online-workshop with the topic “Trainings, services and support”. During this interactive event the participants have got a lot of space for discussion among themselves and with the scientific consortium. The main aim of ExLab C was to gather the experiences and preferences of the project partners with regard to training, services and support. At first, the topics of training, services and support were presented in three main blocks. After each input, the participants had the opportunity to prioritize the support offers presented in a short survey. The results of the survey were then discussed. Based on the feedback from the practice partners, offers for capacity building are to be further developed and tested during the course of the project.


Online-workshop Exlab B – Thermal wellbeing and cold-air balance

On October 1, 2020 the second thematic ExLab took place as an online event with the topic ‘Thermal wellbeing and cold-air balance’. The participants received extensive information on PALM-4U application possibilities in the above mention field and reported on their own use cases and work processes with regard to modeling.


Online-workshop ExLab A – Community of Practice (CoP)

The first ExLab A took place on the June 25, 2020 as an online-seminar with the topic Community of Practice (CoP). The practice partners had an opportunity to present their PALM-4U modelling cases to each other in a Gallery Walk in ProPolis online-forum https://www.propolis-palm-4u.de/ . Afterwards in the virtual ExLab they discussed the infographics prepared in advance, asked questions and exchanged with ProPolis Experts. The ProPolis PALM-4U online-forum is being furhter developed as a room for knowledge and experience exchange.


Info-Mail #1 May 2020

Please read our Info-Mail #1 - ProPolis project-update in the time of corona-pandemic (in German)
ProPolis Info-Mail #1 (300 KB)


ProPolis Kick-off workshop

On January 28, 2020, the kick-off workshop in the ProPolis project took place in Dortmund. The first work results were achieved together with participants from all 13 partner municipalities, project partners and representatives from the joint projects MOSAIK-2 and 3DO+M.