Berliner Erfrischungskarte

The Berliner Efrischungskarte (refreshment map) is a data visualization of the Open Data Information Center (ODIS), which was developed in cooperation with CityLAB Berlin. ODIS is a project of the Technologiestiftung Berlin, which is funded by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises.

Our summers are getting drier and hotter

Berlin is known to be in a moderate climate zone with warm summers and mild winters, but at the same time capricious, inconsistent weather conditions. This means that one day we are looking for a warm ray of sunshine and the next, perhaps sweating again, we long for a fresh breeze. The sweating problem in particular is likely to become a bigger one in the future: Climate change is causing ever hotter, drier weather in many places. According to evaluations by the State Office for the Environment, the number of summer and hot days will increase significantly in the next few years. The region could also get days with more than 40 degrees, which has not been seen before. Such heat puts a heavy strain on the human organism, which must always be kept at around 37 degrees.

Three important factors for a better quality of life

The investigation of the urban climate is therefore an important aspect in urban development and planning in order to increase the quality of life and to expose city dwellers to less health risks. Three important factors that make up a local climate are shading, air temperature and the generation of cold air. Due to the differentiated topography, there can sometimes be considerable differences within the urban area. For example, differences of more than 5 ° C in the lowest temperature between certain areas of the inner city and the outskirts are easily possible in summer.

Klimatische Unterschiede in der Stadt besser verstehen und erfrischende Orte finden

The Berliner Efrischungskarte visualizes the temperature, cold air and shadow areas in Berlin. This data can be viewed for any hour of the day between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The map therefore provides information about the places where comparatively higher or lower temperatures prevail and where shade and sun can be expected. Various locations such as outdoor swimming pools, green spaces and water playgrounds are also displayed where citizens of Berlin can refresh themselves on hot days. Using the partial function, users can save and share their favorite location inside.

More about the data basis and the method on the ODIS website. The processed data and the scripts for data processing can be found in this repository.