Landscape Transformation Effects on Urban Heat

Brooke Shemwell — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:24:30 +0000

Landscape Transformation Effects on Urban Heat Brooke Shemwell Thu, 06/25/2026 - 14:24

Figure 1 Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker in Native Grass and Conventional Grass at Lowry Park in August 2025

How do different landscape types affect residential water usage in dry regions?

In 2025, we used Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker sensors mounted on tripods to collect environmental data at five different locations in Denver—Barnum Park, Denison Park, Lowry Sports Complex, Sanderson Gulch, and the Meadow at City Park. At each site, sensors are placed in various landscape types and record humidity, temperature, and wind speed. These measurements are used to calculate the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which closely approximates how heat is perceived by the human body. Additionally, every 30 minutes, we use an infrared thermometer to measure ground temperature at five different spots around each sensor setup.

This research is ultimately done to recommend landscape types that not only reduce heat exposure for residents but also use less water. We hope that with our findings we can encourage residents to adopt more sustainable, water-efficient landscaping choices.

What do these key variables mean?

Humidity: how much wetness is in the air

Temperature: how hot or cold something is

Wind speed: how fast the air is moving

Wet bulb globe temperature: measurement combining temperature, humidity, and wind speed to determine what the “feels like” temperature is

This work is supported by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (Water Plan Grant) and Denver Water.

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Landscape Transformation Effects on Urban Heat

How do different landscape types affect residential water usage in dry regions?

What do these key variables mean?

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