Leveraging data science and machine learning for urban climate adaptation in two major African cities: a HE²AT Center study protocol

by | Oct 25, 2024

African cities, particularly Abidjan and Johannesburg, face challenges of rapid urban growth, informality, and strained health services, which are compounded by increasing temperatures due to climate change. This study aimed to understand the complexities of heat-related health impacts in these cities. The objectives were: (1) mapping intraurban heat risk and exposure using health, socioeconomic, climate and satellite imagery data; (2) creating a stratified heat-health forecast model to predict adverse health outcomes; and (3) establishing an early warning system for timely heatwave alerts. The ultimate goal is to foster climate-resilient African cities, protecting disproportionately affected populations from heat hazards.

Read more: Jack, C., Parker, C., Kouakou, Y. E., Joubert, B., McAllister, K. A., Ilias, M., … & Cissé, G. (2024). Leveraging data science and machine learning for urban climate adaptation in two major African cities: a HE²AT Center study protocol. BMJ open, 14(6), e077529. Link

Recent Publications

Our Research in Print: HE²AT Center Publications

by | Aug 14, 2026

Over the past five years, the HE²AT Center set out to answer a simple but urgent question: how does extreme heat affect health across Africa — and what can we do about it? That work is now reflected in a growing body of published research. Every paper on this list represents months of fieldwork, data wrangling, and collaboration across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire and beyond. As the project draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back at what this collaboration has produced.

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