IIT Roorkee Develops Personalized Heat Stress Warning System for Urban Resilience

Uttarakhand, May 5, 2025: The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) has developed a pioneering personalized Heat Stress Risk Index Forecast (HSRIF) system aimed at strengthening urban climate resilience and public health preparedness. This innovative system leverages the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in combination with individual vulnerability and exposure data to deliver tailored early warnings for heat stress. Capable of forecasting risks up to five days in advance, it integrates high-resolution meteorological inputs with personal attributes such as age, health conditions, and daily routines.

By harnessing real-time environmental data and advanced predictive modelling, the system empowers individuals, particularly those in heat-prone urban environments, to make informed decisions and take timely protective measures. This personalized approach addresses a critical gap in climate adaptation strategies, aligning with global initiatives focused on early warning systems and climate-responsive urban planning.

Urban populations, particularly those in densely populated cities with minimal green infrastructure, are acutely vulnerable to extreme heat. This innovative system holds the potential to reduce the public health burden from rising temperatures. By offering proactive, data-driven solutions, the research fills a critical gap in climate adaptation planning and directly supports the United Nations’ “Early Warnings for All” initiative. It underscores IIT Roorkee’s leadership in advancing climate resilience and public health protection for urban environments.

The authors, Kshitij Kacker (PMRF Scholar), Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, from the Department of Architecture and Planning, and Prof. Piyush Srivastava, from the Centre of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation and Management spearheaded this cross-disciplinary research. A noted expert in urban morphology and climate resilience, Prof. Mukherjee and Prof. Srivastava guided the project through its conceptualization, investigation, validation, visualization, and review phases.

Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, Author, said, “This system is a step toward empowering individuals and urban communities to adapt to climate challenges. Personalized alerts enable timely, informed decisions that can save lives and enhance resilience to heat stress.”

Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, mentioned, “IIT Roorkee is committed to research that addresses real-world challenges. This work reflects our mission to contribute tangible, innovative solutions that impact global sustainability and urban well-being.”

This publication represents a significant milestone in IIT Roorkee’s mission to deliver research-driven solutions for global sustainability, with a strong emphasis on urban adaptation and community-centered innovation.