In the projects of the Kaupunkivaikutus collaboration, researchers are investigating urban nature as a means of climate adaptation, weighted-curriculum education and needs-based funding in comprehensive school, the impact of rail transport on people and businessess, and traffic disruptions.
Increasing topical and independent research-based knowledge to support decision-making and urban development is a long-term goal of Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa, the three major cities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. This need for knowledge is met by a new form of research collaboration launched in 2024 with the University of Helsinki and Aalto University: the Kaupunkivaikutus ('Urban effect') project.
The project is seeking to fund research of a high scholarly standard whose results respond more directly to the information needs of the cities and help solve questions of strategic importance to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
In autumn 2024, key research themes were surveyed in all three cities, and the first research projects have now been selected. In the selection, particular emphasis was placed on the utilisation of new datasets and measurable observations on impact.
The funding, roughly €400,000, was divided between four research projects of a maximum duration of two years.
Urban nature to support climate adaptation in dense urban structure
CoolGreen, a project carried out by Professor of Urban Meteorology Leena Järvi (University of Helsinki) and Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture Ranja Hautamäki (Aalto University), assesses and models the climate impacts of densification and the cooling potential of greening.
The project assesses how urban nature influences the heat island effect, how densification plans in land use affect the cooling benefits produced by urban nature, and how effectively temperatures can be influenced in densely built areas through greening.
The heat island effect denotes higher temperatures in urban areas, boosted by the warming climate and the densification of urban structures.
"We lack both research-based knowledge, particularly in the northern regions, as well as strategic goals and practical application examples of considering the heat island effect in land use planning. The project produces the concrete knowledge needed for land use and strategic climate action," Järvi and Hautamäki state.
The project's societal impact extends beyond the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area by producing policy briefs for growing urban areas.
