ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Interactive visualization as a tool for knowledge exchange in climate adaptation

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Poster Track 11 | EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Speaker

Sophie Holtkötter (Technical University Dortmund)

Description

Progressing climate change and its consequences underline the necessity not just of climate change mitigation, but also of climate adaptation. To be able to conduct efficient climate adaptation, knowledge about the type and extent of climate impacts e.g., the effects of a heat on the spatial system in specific areas, is necessary (Aguiar et al. 2018: 48). Climate impact analyses (CIA) can supply an important quantitative evidence base for regional and local climate impacts and are able to identify and visualise spatial priorities for climate adaptation (Buth et al. 2017: 8). However, since there is often a lack of communication of information (Hanger et al. 2013: 98), the transfer of knowledge regarding the complex results of CIA from science into planning practice is of great importance. Data preparation and visualisation thus play an important role in supporting stakeholders in climate adaptation through knowledge communication (Neset et al. 2015: 104-106, Goudine et al. 2020: 2, Camarillo-Naranjo et al. 2019: 394- 395). Therefore, the question “What do visualisation tools need to provide to enable effective use in climate adaptation planning practice?” was researched for this contribution.

The research took place in the context of the EU-LIFE project Evolving Regions and the Horizon Europe project Land4Climate. Within the projects, climate impact analyses were conducted for eight counties in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany as well as five regions in Austria, Czechia, Italy, Romania and Slovakia. The projects focused mainly on rural areas, where oftentimes a lack of data, knowledge, tools and climate adaptation plans can be found (Heidrich et al. 2016: 43). The results of the climate impact analyses were communicated to the partner regions in an interactive way with two different visualisation software, Tableau and ArcGIS experience. Through an empirical study, conducted in the form of surveys, the characteristics that interactive visualization tools for climate impact data must have in order to be considered user-friendly and, as a result, offer a benefit for planning practice were explored.

Preliminary results show that visualisation tools can support climate adaptation planning practice by helping to identify hotspots of climate impacts. They do, however, need to provide certain elements to do so effectively. These elements include interactive functions like download and filter options and navigation bars as well as a structured, clear and consistent layout. However, the results also show that too many integrated functions and elements can make the tools too complex. Lastly, the more the practice partners in the regions work with the tools, the more helpful they perceive them, which leads to the conclusion that a willingness to work with new tools is a mayor requirement for their effective use.

References

Aguiar, F.C., Bentz, J., Silva, J.M.N., Fonseca, A.L., Swart, R., Santos, F.D., Penha-Lopes, G. (2018) Adaptation to climate change at local level in Europe: An overview. Environmental Science & Policy, 86, pp.38-63.

Buth, M., Kahlenborn, W., Greiving, S., Fleischhauer, M., Zebisch, M., Schneiderbauer, S., Schauser, I. (2017) Leitfaden für Klimawirkungs- und Vulnerabilitätsanalysen. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt.

Camarillo-Naranjo, J.M., Álvarez-Francoso, J.I., Limones-Rodríguez, N., Pita-López M.F., Aguilar-Alba M. (2019) The global climate monitor system: from climate data-handling to knowledge dissemination. International Journal of Digital Earth, 12(4).

Hanger, S., Pfenninger, S., Dreyfus, M. (2013) Knowledge and information needs of adaptation policy-makers: a European study. Reg Environ Change, 13, pp.91-101.

Neset, T.-S., Wilk, J., Cruz S., Graça M., Rød J.K., Maarse M.J., Wallin P., Andersson L. (2021) Co-designing a citizen science climate service. Climate Services, 24.

Goudine, A., Newell, R., Bone, C. (2020) Seeing Climate Change: A Framework for Understanding Visualizations for Climate Adaptation. ISPRS Int.J.Geo-Inf., 9, p.644.

Heidrich, O., Reckien, D., Olazabal, M., Foley, A., Salvia, M., De Gregorio Hurtado, S., Orru, H., Flacke, J., Geneletti, D., Pietrapertosa, F., Hamann, J.J.-P., Tiwary, A., Feliu, E., Dawson, R.J. (2016) National climate policies across Europe and their impacts on cities strategies. Journal of Environmental Management, 168, pp.36-45.