Digital Tools for Climate Resilience: Harnessing Geospatial Data and Local Insights
25. June 14:55 - 16:30
Cities collect a lot of data, but how can they turn it into actionable climate resilience strategies?
This workshop introduces practical tools that help cities turn data into action. The VALORADA project has developed two key tools: Pixagri, which assesses drought risks and agricultural impacts, and Landia, which helps cities understand and manage urban heat island effects. The session will also feature insights from the Geo Spatial Tools for Cities focus group, supported by the Smart Cities Marketplace and led by Eurisy, along with real-world examples from ICLEI Action Fund projects. Participants will learn how climate, geospatial, and local data can support better planning and decision-making for a more resilient future.
Through insights from experts, hands-on exploration of the tools and interactive breakout discussions, participants will explore solutions for risk assessment, scenario modeling, and data-driven decision-making. Participants will have the opportunity to dive deeper into each of the thematic discussions in the breakout sessions focused on geo-spatial satellite data for cities, digital tools for climate risk assessment and scenario modeling, and ground-level and citizen-science data for assessing climate impacts.
Speakers from cities, researchers, and technical experts will share the successes and challenges in implementing these tools, finding the right data, and turning it into actionable strategies, thereby improving decision-making. Join us for a hands-on, engaging session exploring how predictive models identify key indicators for effective adaptation policies, connecting climate data with real-world resilience planning.
Speakers
Research Associate, Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) (Germany)
Vanessa Reinhart, Research Associate, Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)
Dr. Vanessa Reinhart is a multidisciplinary geographer with expertise in big data analysis, regional climate modeling, and qualitative stakeholder engagement. She completed her PhD at the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) in Hamburg in 2022, focusing on improving land use representation in regional climate models working towards improved climate projections. Since then, her work has evolved to emphasize stakeholder collaboration, science communication, and the development of climate services. At Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), she coordinates the Data2Resilience project and works closely with urban stakeholders to support climate adaptation efforts. Her key interests include urban climate adaptation, aligning scientific service development with stakeholder needs, and communicating climate science across the public and private sector.
Senior Project Manager, Forum Virium Helsinki (Finland)
Heli POnto, Senior Project Manager, Forum Virium Helsinki (Finland)
Heli Ponto, a senior project manager, specializes in a project that addresses climate adaptation, digital twins, and social justice. With a PhD in urban geography focused on urban and mobility experiences, she is passionate about urban development, sustainability, smart cities, and smart mobility.
Coordinator Climate Adaptation, City of Dortmund (Germany)
Sophie Arens, City of Dortmund
Sophie Arens has spent many years researching in climate protection and climate adaptation. Initially at the Wuppertal Institute for climate, Energy and Environment and later at TU Dortmund in the topic of urban resilience. Since 2018 she has been working for the coordination office for climate protection and climate adaptation in the City of Dortmund and implements the Adaptation strategy and the Heat Action plan for the City.
Research Associate, Head of Project and Services, TerraNIS (France)
Sylvie Duthoit, Research Associate, Head of Project and Services, TerraNIS
Sylvie Duthoit is an expert in remote sensing with over 20 years of experience in research, development, and operational services. Holding a Ph.D. in Remote Sensing from Toulouse III University (France), she has contributed to major European projects and published extensively in scientific journals. Sylvie combines strong project management skills with expertise in landscape analysis, Earth observation, and environmental monitoring. She currently leads the Projects and Services team at TerraNIS and as part of the European Valorada project, her team is developing - in close collaboration with other partners - some data manipulation tools for each of the 5 demonstrators covering a variety of different sectors, climate risks and key community systems.
Moderator
GERICS (Germany)
CristObal Reveco, Social Scientist, GERICS
Cristóbal Reveco is a Social Scientist at the German Climate Service Center (GERICS). His work focuses on exploring the social dimensions underpinning the use of climate information. Currently, Cristobal act as the coordinator of the EU Project VALORADA. VALORADA focuses on developing methods to facilitate the uptake and use of climate information for decision making in local governments.
Previously, Cristóbal worked for more than ten years in Latin America supporting local governments planning efforts to adapt to climate change, including the articulation of municipal networks on climate action in Chile, Costa Rica and Colombia, designed and implemented capacity building programmes for urban decision makers and planners, and coordinated collaborations between local governments and universities, facilitating science-policy interactions in the frame of climate change.