Background
Urbanization raises city temperatures relative to nearby rural areas, known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect (Oke et al., 2017; Stewart and Mills, 2021), impacting thermal comfort, infrastructure, energy use, planning, and health. The intensifying heatwave further amplifies UHI effects, as illustrated by 2-metre air temperature (Ta) anomalies exceeding 15 °C across parts of British Columbia during the 2021 heatwave event (Fig. 1). Canadian mortality statistics have documented associations with extreme heat, indicating 122‐156 excess deaths in British Columbia during July 2009 (Kosatsky et al., 2012), 280 extra deaths in Quebec during July 2010 (Bustinza et al., 2013), 66 deaths in Montreal during July 2018 (Lamothe et al., 2019), 619 deaths in British Columbia during June 2021 (British Columbia Coroners Service, 2022), and 66 extra deaths in Alberta during the same 2021 event (Johnson, 2021). Vulnerable populations, including older adults and low-income households, are disproportionately concentrated in neighbourhoods where exposure is usually higher, which further amplifies health inequities. Against this backdrop, standardized temperature mapping has become a foundational tool for adaptation and health protection. However, mapping practice remains heterogeneous in Canada. To date, the absence of national-level guidance on developing and applying maps in Canada limits comparability and constrains the design of effective interventions.
Dr. Muthukumaran Packirisamy, Dr. Liangzhu Leon Wang, and their collaborators are tackling these challenges through the following two major initiatives. They are analyzing appropriate mapping methods for national surface and air temperature baseline maps while simultaneously developing next-generation technologies for a more resilient, decarbonized future.
Mapping Urban Surface and Air Temperature Baseline
This first project, “Development of Technical Guidance to Advance Surface Temperature and Air Temperature Mapping in Canada”, supported by the Standards Council of Canada and Health Canada, investigated the need for a standardized national baseline for mapping urban surface and air temperature in Canada. The project leveraged a systematic review of international mapping methods and extensive engagement with experts and stakeholders, which included feedback from a seven-member steering committee and a pan-Canadian UHI workshop in May 20251 that drew over 70 participants from across sectors.
A key distinction between two related but not interchangeable temperatures was identified: Land Surface Temperature (LST) and near-surface air temperature (Ta).
- LST is mainly observed by satellite remote sensing, which measures the most exposed horizontal surfaces, such as rooftops and pavement. While LST maps are excellent for diagnosing overheated horizontal surfaces, they are often a poor proxy for human thermal comfort.
- Ta is the ambient temperature felt by people, typically measured 1.25 to 2 meters above the ground, which is more directly relevant to health risks. Ta maps are primarily generated through numerical modeling.
The study identified that national surface and air temperature baseline maps are needed to diagnose and warn of heat risk in urban areas accurately. These standardized maps, after rigorous validation, enable cross-city comparability and support effective health interventions.
Powering the Next Step: The Volt-Age IMPACT Project (Dr. Packirisamy and Dr. Wang and – Co-PI and PI)
The above national surface and air baseline maps provide the foundation for a major new initiative at Concordia University: "Transforming Built and Urban Microclimates: Advancing Resilience Science for Vulnerable Populations in a Decarbonized and Electrified Canada". This Volt-Age IMPACT project, led by Dr. Packirisamy (Co-PI) and Dr. Wang (PI), moves from mapping the at-risk areas to acting on them. The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts in engineering, AI, climate science, and psychology to solve how Canadian cities can withstand climate shocks while simultaneously cutting emissions and advancing equity. The project will develop advanced mapping methodologies, leveraging high-resolution data collection and AI-powered predictive tools to close significant data gaps and provide resilience solutions for urban areas, particularly for vulnerable communities and populations, including Indigenous communities and seniors.
The two initiatives are deeply connected. The baseline maps for surface and air temperature provide the standard foundation for the Volt-Age IMPACT project's key component: "Strengthening National Codes and Standards for a Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Future."
Innovative Solutions for Resilient Buildings: photosynthetic green panels
At the heart of the Volt-Age IMPACT project's technological innovation is the work of Dr. Muthukumaran Packirisamy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Packirisamy, who holds the Concordia Research Chair in Optical BioMEMS, brings his extensive expertise in algae bio-voltaic cells and microphotosynthetic power cell (u-PSC) (see Fig. 2 for the operating principle), optical MEMS localized surface plasmon resonance, nano-bio interactions, and turbomachinery and diagnostic “lab-on-a-chip” systems to the challenge of creating climate-resilient buildings. He leads a key component of the Volt-Age IMPACT project's "Building Environment and Microclimatic Resilience Solutions." This work explores truly innovative technologies to create net-zero architecture with a minimal carbon footprint.
His work will focus on exploring innovative climate-resilient technologies, including photosynthetic green panels that harvest energy day and night (Hall and Rao, 2010; Kê, 2001) via lab-on-chip microfluidic technology, enabling net-zero architecture with minimal carbon footprint. Using algae bio-voltaic cells within u-PSC systems to achieve a dual benefit: sequestering carbon while providing continuous power (Chiao et al., 2006; Kuruvinashetti et al., 2021; Lam et al., 2006). Concordia’s polymer-based lab-on-chip devices (Kuruvinashetti et al., 2021; Kuruvinashetti and Packirisamy, 2022; Packirisamy and Kuruvinashetti, 2022) will support scalable Smart Carbon-Neutral Building concepts that replace or complement solar panels to reduce building loads. These innovations will be tested at Concordia’s FBL & NRC’s Test Houses, with potential for commercialization & patents, driving innovation in carbon-neutral, sustainable urban energy solutions.
A Resilient and Decarbonized Future
The challenge posed by extreme urban heat is one of the defining issues for Canadian society. It is a complex problem that demands an integrated response—from national-level data standards to building-level technological breakthroughs.
The synergy between the national baseline mapping initiative and Concordia's Volt-Age Impact project provides a powerful model for success. By first establishing a standardized map understanding of the problem, researchers can then deploy advanced solutions to protect our most vulnerable populations and build the smart, decarbonized, and climate-ready communities of the future.
Fig. 1. 2-metre air temperature anomalies. Modified from the original source: (NASA Earth Observatory, 2021)
Fig. 2. Principle of the operation of microphotosynthetic power cells (μ-PSCs). Original source: (Kuruvinashetti et al., 2021)
Reference
- British Columbia Coroners Service, 2022. Extreme Heat and Human Mortality: A Review of Heat-Related Deaths in B.C. in Summer 2021.
- Bustinza, R., Lebel, G., Gosselin, P., Bélanger, D., Chebana, F., 2013. Health impacts of the July 2010 heat wave in Québec, Canada. BMC Public Health 13, 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-56
- Chiao, M., Lam, K.B., Lin, L., 2006. Micromachined microbial and photosynthetic fuel cells. J. Micromechanics Microengineering 16, 2547–2553. https://doi.org/10.1088/0960-1317/16/12/005
- Hall, D.O., Rao, K.K., 2010. Photosynthesis 214–214.
- Johnson, L., 2021. Alberta saw spike in reported deaths during heatwave, causes still under investigation [WWW Document]. Edmont. J. URL https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/alberta-saw-spike-in-reported-deaths-during-heatwave-causes-still-under-investigation (accessed 3.7.25).
- Kê, B., 2001. Photosynthesis: photobiochemistry and photobiophysics, Advances in photosynthesis. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht.
- Kosatsky, T., Henderson, S.B., Pollock, S.L., 2012. Shifts in Mortality During a Hot Weather Event in Vancouver, British Columbia: Rapid Assessment With Case-Only Analysis. Am. J. Public Health 102, 2367–2371. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300670
- Kuruvinashetti, K., Packirisamy, M., 2022. Arraying of microphotosynthetic power cells for enhanced power output. Microsyst. Nanoeng. 2022 81 8, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-022-00361-7
- Kuruvinashetti, K., Tanneru, H.K., Pillay, P., Packirisamy, M., 2021. Review on Microphotosynthetic Power Cells—A Low‐Power Energy‐Harvesting Bioelectrochemical Cell: From Fundamentals to Applications. Energy Technol. 9, 2001002. https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202001002
- Lam, K.B., Johnson, E.A., Chiao, M., Lin, L., 2006. A MEMS Photosynthetic Electrochemical Cell Powered by Subcellular Plant Photosystems. J. Microelectromechanical Syst. 15, 1243–1250. https://doi.org/10.1109/JMEMS.2006.880296
- Lamothe, F., Roy, M., Racine-Hamel, S.-É., 2019. Enquête épidémiologique - Vague de chaleur à l’été 2018 à Montréal.
- NASA Earth Observatory, 2021. Exceptional Heat Hits Pacific Northwest [WWW Document]. URL https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148506/exceptional-heat-hits-pacific-northwest (accessed 10.3.25).
- Oke, T.R., Mills, G., Christen, A., Voogt, J.A., 2017. Urban Climates, 1st ed. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139016476
- Packirisamy, M., Kuruvinashetti, K., 2022. U.S. Patent Application for PHOTOSYNTHETIC POWER CELL DEVICES AND MANUFACTURING METHODS Patent Application (Application #20220320559 issued October 6, 2022) - Justia Patents Search.
- Stewart, I.D., Mills, G., 2021. The Urban Heat Island. Elsevier, San Diego.
