News
VITUclim, an advanced network for monitoring urban heat
- August 7, 2026
- Meteorology and Climatology
The Meteorology and Climatology Area develops VITUclim, an advanced network for monitoring urban heat and supporting adaptation to extreme temperatures.
VITUclim is an urban heat monitoring network deployed primarily across València and its metropolitan area, complemented by a dedicated network in the municipality of Alzira.
The network comprises more than 70 temperature and humidity sensors distributed across València and its metropolitan surroundings, together with 17 sensors installed in Alzira. Due to its high spatial density, territorial coverage and diversity of monitored environments, VITUclim is one of the most detailed urban heat observation networks in Spain.
The sensors are located in densely built-up areas, residential neighbourhoods, green spaces, peri-urban environments and less urbanised reference sites. This distribution makes it possible to analyse temperature and humidity differences within the same city and to assess the influence of factors such as urban morphology, construction materials, vegetation and proximity to open spaces.
Conventional weather stations provide essential information, but they do not always capture the considerable thermal variability that can exist between neighbourhoods or even between nearby streets. VITUclim makes it possible to identify thermal contrasts, detect areas of heat accumulation and improve understanding of the urban heat island effect and population exposure to high-temperature events.
This infrastructure provides the observational basis required to transform urban climate data into useful information for decision-making. Its objective is to support public authorities in designing, prioritising and evaluating medium- and long-term adaptation measures to extreme heat.
In the near future, the integration of real-time data will enable continuous monitoring of intra-urban thermal variability and contribute to estimating thermal exposure and vulnerability across different urban environments. This information will support measures related to climate shelters, green infrastructure, urban planning, public health and the protection of the most vulnerable population groups.
VITUclim will contribute to advancing adaptation planning based on the actual thermal conditions of each territory, supporting the development of healthier, safer and more resilient cities in the face of rising temperatures and increasingly frequent extreme heat events.
