In a context where heat waves are increasingly frequent, researchers from the CONICET developed FORMA3T, a free platform that estimates the outdoor air temperature in residential neighborhoods. The tool allows users to know maximum, minimum, and average values based on variables such as the height of the buildings, the width of the streets, and urban orientation.
The system aims to promote the design of “cool cities”, adapted to the challenges of climate change. FORMA3T relies on hundreds of simulations conducted with the ENVI-met software, adjusted with real field measurements, which allowed the generation of more than 500 different scenarios regarding urban thermal behavior.
From these analyses, mathematical models capable of quickly predicting temperature in urban environments emerged, based on a few parameters. Thus, the platform facilitates comparing designs or evaluating already built areas, becoming a key resource for planners, architects, and local governments.
Access is free and does not require downloading. By simply entering basic data —such as street width or lot distribution—, the system provides immediate results that help identify what changes can reduce urban heat and improve thermal comfort.
A step towards sustainable cities
The tool promotes a comprehensive vision of urban planning, where design can help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce energy consumption, and improve quality of life. FORMA3T models achieve accuracy levels above 85%, reaching even 90% in the estimation of minimum temperatures, a key data point for evaluating nighttime cooling.
The development team belongs to the Institute of Environment, Habitat, and Energy (INAHE-CONICET) and had the support of the Municipality of Mendoza, the Green Fund, and CONICET itself. Its creation represents an advance in local climate planning and an example of innovation applied to sustainable urban development.
In addition to providing technical information, FORMA3T has an educational approach: it allows students and professionals to experiment with different urban scenarios and understand how design decisions affect environmental temperature.
What a cool city should have
A cool city does not depend solely on the climate but on its structure and planning. The presence of urban trees, parks, and green roofs helps lower surface temperature and improve air quality. Narrower and shaded streets reduce direct radiation, while proper orientation of the urban layout promotes natural ventilation.
The use of permeable materials and light colors in streets and buildings is also key: they reflect solar radiation and prevent heat accumulation. Moreover, the integration of bioclimatic corridors and public spaces with vegetation helps balance temperatures between different urban sectors.
Designing cool cities means planning with climate adaptation in mind. Tools like FORMA3T allow anticipating scenarios, optimizing resources, and building more habitable, sustainable, and resilient cities in the face of an increasingly warm planet.
