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As part of the METACITIES Excellence Hub project, the Cypriot Cluster has developed a pilot demonstration within the iNicosia Digital Twin that supports data-driven urban heat island (UHI) mitigation through targeted tree-planting scenarios.

The solution combines long-term satellite-derived thermal data with spatial analysis and simulation capabilities to identify areas where elevated urban temperatures persist over time. Persistent UHI hotspots are derived from Landsat thermal imagery covering Nicosia from 2013 to 2025. An area is classified as a persistent hotspot when its annual median UHI intensity reaches at least 2°C in more than half of the examined years, helping planners distinguish chronic heat problems from temporary temperature variations.

Building on this evidence base, the UHI Reduction Simulator enables users to select a hotspot, define an intervention area, and create alternative tree-planting scenarios. The simulator uses species-specific parameters, including canopy size, growth rate, and recommended planting spacing, supplied through integration with the Cyprus Trees platform. It then generates a proposed planting layout and estimates the projected cooling effect as the selected trees mature.

The results are presented through map-based visualisations and an immersive 3D environment, allowing users to explore the development of the intervention over time. Scenario summaries provide estimated impacts for years one, two, five, and ten, while the 3D model illustrates the growth of tree canopies and the expansion of their projected cooling footprint.

The pilot demonstrates an end-to-end workflow for assessing long-term, nature-based heat mitigation measures: from identifying persistent UHI hotspots, to defining feasible interventions, simulating their effects, and visualising projected outcomes. It provides a practical decision-support approach for municipal authorities, urban planners, and other stakeholders seeking to design more resilient and climate-responsive urban environments.

Discover the UHI Reduction Simulator through the pilot demonstration video, which showcases how the Digital Twin can support targeted planning interventions for reducing urban heat island effects in Nicosia.