Helping cities tackle heat waves and air pollution with AI innovation

September 22, 2025 by University of Manchester

Collected at: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-cities-tackle-air-pollution-ai.html

Heat and air pollution affect millions in cities. Manchester researchers use AI and open data to build tools helping cities track risks and respond more effectively to climate and environmental challenges.

Heat waves are increasingly pushing city temperatures to dangerous levels, while air pollution can silently damage our health year-round. Together, these threats affect millions, and they’re often getting worse as our climate changes.

But spotting patterns in where and when these risks are highest isn’t easy. So, a team of researchers at Manchester led by Dr. Zhonghua Zheng, have begun to design tools that help cities track these risks and adapt to growing climate and environmental challenges.

Dr. Zheng explains, “We urgently need tools that are not only accurate, but accessible and actionable. This project reflects my passion for using AI and open science to empower decision-makers, from local councils to the global research community.”

By combining open data with the use of AI and detailed computer models, the team are creating more accurate tools that not only track and predict heat and air pollution in cities, but also evaluate the effectiveness of potential engineering solutions—helping leaders take action sooner, make better decisions, and build cleaner, healthier and more resilient urban futures.

Dr. Zheng’s research is published in Environmental Modelling & Software and ACS ES&T Air.

More information: Junjie Yu et al, Integration and execution of Community Land Model Urban (CLMU) in a containerized environment, Environmental Modelling & Software (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106391

Fei Jiang et al, Integrating Simulations and Observations: A Foundation Model for Estimating the Aerosol Mixing State Index, ACS ES&T Air (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsestair.4c00329