iCARI launches RE-URBANEX

 iCARI launches RE-URBANEX

WGIN member iCARI kick-starts RE-URBANEX, a large-scale, EU-based public-private research project focused on long-term climate adaptation of built-up areas and building stock renewal. The current project evaluation exceeds €1.5 million and continues to grow, supported by a major PPP grant from STRABAG – one of Europe’s leading construction companies.

Coordinated by iCARI and located on a 19,000 m² campus in Brno (Czech Republic), the project combines advanced data science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high-frequency environmental monitoring. The aim is to test and verify real-world adaptation strategies: vegetation-based cooling, rainwater management, albedo optimization, indoor and outdoor air quality, and emission reduction.

CzechGlobe, a top-tier climate change institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, provides the project’s scientific backbone.

Within the RE-URBANEX project, we explore a broad range of climate adaptation solutions and interactions, including green, blue, and grey infrastructure, the impact of urban heat islands, primary energy sources, BioSolar systems (combining greenery and photovoltaics), excess energy storage (including in the form of ice produced from harvested rainwater), indoor environmental quality, air quality, architectural and design strategies, and other innovative components. A dedicated part of the research also focuses on communicating results with an emphasis on practical application.

RE-URBANEX is a living lab for cities, researchers, and companies ready to co-create tested, scalable solutions for climate resilience – backed by 15-minute interval measurements, running 7/24/365 over three years. The platform aims to expose and replace ineffective greenwashing with transparent and verifiable results.

Timeline:

October 2024 – December 2027

Key Deliverables:

  • Climate-Sustainable Campus Plan
  • Adaptation Handbook for Building Renewal
  • Policy Recommendations for Municipalities & States
  • Evidence-Based ESG Report for Public Institutions
  • Guidelines for PPP Design and EU Funding Alignment
  • Educational and Participatory Outputs

Call for Technology Partners:

If you develop innovative technologies for climate adaptation in urban environments and want to test them under real operational conditions – backed by detailed data and expert evaluation – RE-URBANEX offers a unique opportunity to become part of one of Europe’s most relevant adaptation projects.

More information: www.icari.eu/reurbanex

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