HeatLab Research 2025
Each year, students contribute fresh insights to HeatLab Rotterdam by exploring real urban heat challenges across the city. On this page, you can find an overview of the student research projects carried out in 2025.
Their work helps us better understand how heat affects Rotterdam’s neighbourhoods, buildings and residents, and how research can support practical steps towards a cooler and more resilient city.
Research 2025
Assessing the cooling potential of ground coverage on the drinking water temperature
This research addresses the issue of rising soil temperatures driven by climate change.
Heat in Ommoord, awareness of elderly
This study in the Senior-friendly Ommoord neighbourhood is about increasing the risk perception of independent-dwelling older people regarding heat, through a practical intervention.
Urban Heat Island Effect in the Rotterdam Harbour and Its Relationship with Surface Materials and Site Design
What morphological factors contribute to the variation in thermal performance of the Rotterdam Harbour?
Children’s behaviour during Heat: A study of heat stress in children in the Afrikaanderwijk
The aim of the research is to test what children in the Afrikaanderwijk know what to do when it is hot outside.
Beat the Heat: The Effect of Urban Density on the Urban Heat Island Effect in Rotterdam
This study analyzed the association between quantitative data of neighborhood characteristics and air temperature within these 5 Rotterdam neighborhoods.
The urban heat island and high-rise buildings: An investigation into drivers, solutions and the spatial context
This study investigated the relationship between high-rise buildings and the urban heat island effect and what this means for the formation of the UHI.
Heat protocols home care and welfare; paper and practice
That research looks at the heat protocols of Rotterdam home care and welfare organisations on paper and how they work in practice.
The cooperation and division of tasks between GPs, pharmacists and home care during heat
How is the division of roles between GPs, pharmacists and home care workers during heat in Ommoord, Afrikaanderwijk and Vreewijk, what would they like and could they do more to provide care for vulnerable target groups?
Supermarket air conditioning too cold – Why does the shop manager do it?
By designing a practical and effective health intervention, this research seeks to contribute to a safe, healthy, and accessible shopping environment for the elderly population of Ommoord.
Supermarket air conditioning too cold – How can we empower older shoppers?
This project aims to better understand the perceptions and needs of elderly residents, to issue practical recommendations for promoting safe and health-consciou behavior during warmer summer days.
The Costs and Benefits of Heat Stress Mitigation in Rotterdam’s Social Housing
This thesis examines how heat stress mitigation measures for the existing social housing stock can be both socially and financially viable. (Won Aedes-scriptieprijs)
Adapting to Rising Temperatures
This study dives into the implementation of heat management strategies in existing rental housing in Rotterdam, along with the division of responsibilities between housing associations, local governments, and residents within the implementations process.
Preventing Urban Heat Stress: Exploring the Role of Hospitality Entrepreneurs in Public Health Promotion
This study exploreshow hospitality entrepreneurs perceive their role in supporting public health by offering free tap water during heat, using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a framework.
Cool spots in Rotterdam: quantifying objective and subjective factors for design and evaluation.
This study focuses on combining objective and subjective factors to create cool outdoor spaces that are both effectively used and genuinely perceived as pleasant by users.