The aim of the research project is to collect personal heat experiences of senior citizens in the neighbourhood around Quellenplatz (10th district Favoriten, Vienna). Older people are considered particularly vulnerable on hot days, so we want to explore the urban climate in their living environment together with them.
Together with senior citizens as citizen scientists, we will look for everyday places in the neighbourhood and categorise them according to their personal perception of temperature. We will then use mobile sensors to measure the actual temperatures at these locations. We will reflect on and interpret the collected data: To what extent do perceived and measured temperatures overlap?
This is how short heat stories are created. They will serve as the basis for a chatbot. The chatbot is intended to contribute to a systematic survey of the social dimensions of urban heat by enabling it to be used by as broad a population group as possible. In this way, the needs of vulnerable groups in particular will be taken into account in urban planning.
The city will become hotter and hotter in the coming years. City dwellers can be affected by rising heat in very different ways. For example, because of where they live, their age, their profession or their health. We want to collect individual experiences and make them visible. The citizen science project with senior citizens is a starting point. It should be the basis for joint reflections on social urban development against the background of rising temperatures.
The results are used to develop the chatbot pilot. This will then be tested by as many users as possible. We also want to develop recommendations for urban planning based on the findings. They will be included in current development projects (WienNeu+) in the 10th district.
The results will also be published on the website of the future.lab Research Center of the Vienna University of Technology. For participants - as co-researchers - the results will also be made available free of charge in print form.
You are older than 50 years? You would like to share with us your experiences with heat in old age?
You have experience with urban heat around Quellenplatz? Or are you interested in urban heat around Quellenplatz?
Then become a citizen scientist and take part in the research cafés near you!
You can find current info on theproject website.
Pensionist*innenklub Herzgasse, Herzgasse 15-19, 1100 Wien
Together we map hot and cool everyday places around the Quellenplatz. Afterwards, we walk the places with sensors to measure the temperatures there and share our experiences with heat. (Participation in the walk is optional - depending on individual possibilities. Length and route will also be adapted according to weather conditions).
Pensionist*innenklub Herzgasse, Herzgasse 15-19, 1100 Wien
Together we will evaluate the temperatures of the walk and compare them to our perceived perception. Finally, we will record your individual experiences with heat at these places in the form of short stories.
Refreshing drinks, fruit, coffee and cake will be provided. No special previous knowledge is required for participation! We ask for pre-registration by sending a short mail to
to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or by phone call: 01 58801 44032
The project team is made up of researchers from the projects "OPUSH" (opush.net) and "Chatbots and Microstories" led by the Vienna University of Technology, as well as residents (Citizen Scientists) from around Quellenplatz. Participation in the project is voluntary.
This is how a citizen social science project is created: interested people become researchers and experts. Urban research does not take place in a laboratory, but together with local residents. As citizen scientists, you contribute your experiences and interests to the workshops. Together we collect temperature data and experiences with heat. The collected data will be analysed and evaluated together.
The project is led by the future.lab Research Center of TU Wien. There is cooperation with the TU Vienna Library, the City of Vienna (MA 22, MA 25, GB*), the Vienna Chamber of Labour and the Natural History Museum.
The project is part of the research projects "OPUSH" (opush.net) and "Chatbots and Microstories" at TU Wien. The aim of the international research project "OPUSH" (opush.net) is to make knowledge about sustainable development visible and accessible to local communities. Project partners from the four European cities of Barcelona, Delft, Tallinn and Vienna are conducting research together with citizens; libraries and other local cultural institutions play a mediating role. "Chatbots and Microstories" tests an innovative method of data collection that combines personal experience with empirical measurement and will be extended to other parts of the city after successful testing.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
TU Wien future.lab Research Center
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.