City Cooling Solution
City Climate X develops decision-support solutions for urban design and planning, serving local authorities, urban developers, and construction stakeholders.
Overview of the project
City Climate X has developed an integrated urban microclimate approach combining in situ measurements, numerical modelling, and bioclimatic expertise to support public authorities and project owners in designing heat-resilient urban environments.
The characterization of baseline conditions relies on a microclimate monitoring system combining fixed weather stations and mobile measurement campaigns. Installed at pedestrian level, the stations continuously record key thermal comfort parameters, including air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiation, enabling the characterization of thermal dynamics and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Mobile measurements, carried out using onboard sensors, complement this system by capturing the fine spatial variability of urban thermal conditions.
All field data are used to calibrate and validate the models, ensuring that simulations accurately reflect observed real-world conditions.
The City Cooling Solution modelling platform enables users to anticipate and assess the impact of urban design interventions on thermal comfort. It relies on a hybrid approach combining field measurements, spatial datasets (3D geometry, materials, vegetation, Sky View Factor, radiative parameters), and locally trained machine-learning algorithms. This non-stationary, metre-scale microclimate modelling generates perceived temperature maps, time-series simulations, and before-and-after scenario comparisons. It offers an operational balance between spatial resolution, physical realism, and computational efficiency, making it possible to identify the most effective interventions for reducing urban overheating and improving outdoor thermal comfort.
Equipping decision-makers with robust and accurate tools to help cool cities.
Ongoing research
01/09/2022 - project still in progress
The simulations provide a quantitative assessment of the impact of urban interventions on thermal comfort and Urban Heat Island intensity. Results are analysed using meteorological indicators and spatially distributed thermal comfort indices (UTCI and WBGT), including perceived temperature, surface temperature, wind conditions, solar radiation, and sunshine duration.
On a Mediterranean urban site, simulations demonstrated a significant improvement in thermal comfort after redevelopment, with UTCI reductions of up to 8°C during hot periods. These gains were primarily achieved through the combined implementation of vegetated shading structures and tree planting, demonstrating the effectiveness of nature-based solutions in mitigating urban heat.
As part of an awareness-raising programme in the Mediterranean region, City Climate X supports the redevelopment of two public squares through a participatory approach focused on thermal comfort. Thermal walks and cognitive mapping exercises are used to collect qualitative data on citizens’ thermal perceptions. These observations are systematically analysed and cross-referenced with objective environmental measurements.
The findings are presented through maps and graphical summaries, making it easier to visualise reductions in urban overheating and providing project stakeholders with practical decision-support tools, particularly for engaging younger audiences in climate adaptation.
City Climate X builds on a strong track record of public funding and internal entrepreneurial support for its research and development activities. The company has received funding from Bpifrance, French Tech, and the ESA BIC programme, and has also applied to ADEME's PACT²e call for projects as part of a consortium with regional stakeholders.
This funding trajectory is fully aligned with major Fr
City Climate X is part of Actierra, a subsidiary of the engineering group Ingérop, enabling the company to contribute to large-scale projects, benefit from long-term financial stability, and deploy its solutions nationally and internationally.
City Climate X also relies on a strong ecosystem of institutional, technological, and industrial partners, reinforcing its scientific credibility, financial resilience, and operational capacity. The company is a technology partner of Esri, the global leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), allowing it to leverage state-of-the-art geospatial tools for territorial and climate analysis.
City Climate X is also part of the ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) programme, strengthening its position at the intersection of Earth observation, digital innovation, and operational applications for climate-resilient territories.
The company has received several national recognitions, including the Bpifrance label and the French Tech label, highlighting its innovative character and economic strength. Finally, City Climate X is involved in the Pulsalys SATT technology transfer programme through its Propulseur initiative and is a member of the Aerospace Valley competitiveness cluster, fostering synergies between research, innovation, and market applications.