Smart Hydration System: PIT for Urban Heat Resilience
public interest technology; future roadmap
timeline: Oct'24-Dec'24 ; 2 months
How might we mitigate the impact of extreme heat on people with underlying respiratory conditions by incorporating personalized, accessible, and community-driven solutions in London by 2035?
Research
Trends and Drivers
Stakeholders Map
Horizon Scanning
Envision
Future Scenario
PIT Proposal
Design
PIT Roadmap
Prototype
Trends
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Increase in number, duration and intensity of heat waves and extreme heat conditions because of climate change [1]
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Increase in heatwaves related deaths [2]
No clear data about trend of people with respiratory conditions- because of COVID 19
Image: MET Office, July 2022 [3]
Drivers
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Moving towards community led solutions [4]
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Rising interest in traditional and indigenous practices [5]
Needs capacity building and research Require extensive research and may not be able to solve the problem alone
Moving towards low carbon emissions sustainable solutions [6]
Broader in scope; not very specific
Rise in respiratory issues due to more early and prolonged pollen seasons [7] [8]
Problem oriented- not solutions oriented
National healthcare focusing on preventative care and resilience [9]
Best balance between feasibility, innovation and impact
Research Gaps
There is a need to provide tried and tested strategies for individuals and families in settings where governments cannot or would not carry out population-level comprehensive programs or implement public health interventions. [10]
Stakeholders' Map
Horizon Scanning
Now (1-2 years)
New ( 3-5 years)
Next ( 6-10 years)
Opportunities
Barriers
Pitfalls
Socioeconomic factors should be linked with microclimatic parameters, given individual differences in heat adaptation [11]
Air-conditioning increased dependence upon it, limited passive adaptation and only people living in homes with whole-house air-conditioning had less health problems during heatwaves [12] [13]
Continuance of knowledge-sharing behavior [14]
Enablers
Online knowledge sharing platforms [14]
AI
Unknowns
Understanding the social capital indicators [15]
Real-time microclimate monitoring and mapping are needed to showcase the thermal usability of public spaces and travel paths [16]
Behavioral adaptation measures [16]
Socioeconomic accessibility
UK’s commitment to produce a national cooling action plan [12]
IoT
Wearable fabric that keeps you cool [17]
Nutritional Interventions to mitigate heat stress [18]
Socioeconomic accessibility and scale
Materials and Supply chains of these new solutions
Climate induced migration [19]
Social
Technological
Environmental
Economical
Political
Future Scenario
In 2035, extreme heat events in London are more frequent than ever, yet the number of hospitalizations among older adults with respiratory conditions has significantly decreased. This improvement is thanks to the Smart Hydration System, launched by the Centre for Climate and Health Security (UKHSA).
The solution integrated a lightweight hydration patch that monitors hydration and electrolyte levels in real time. When levels drop, the refillable bottle dispenses nutrients in the water tailored to the wearer’s needs. Local community hubs buzz with activity, offering bottle refills and workshops on managing heat stress. These hubs have become central to neighborhood life, offering health resources and fostering connections.
Patients feel empowered and supported, benefiting from personalized care while contributing to a resilient community.
Organisation
Technology
Centre for Climate and Health Security, UK Health Security Agency [20]
Nutritional Science & Wearable Technology
PIT Proposal
This initiative addresses the impact of extreme heat on older adults with respiratory conditions through a smart hydration system. It includes a wearable that tracks hydration levels and a refillable water bottle that dispenses nutrient-enhanced drinks tailored to individual needs. The system integrates community hubs where users can refill bottles, learn about managing heat stress, and participate in wellness activities.
Community Hubs
To build trust and awareness in the community by creating accessible hubs
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Established local low tech cooling and resource hubs across London in heat-prone neighborhoods
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Provided workshops on managing heat stress, hydration, and nutrition
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Distributed educational materials and gathered feedback from residents
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Partnered with local organizations, healthcare providers, and NGOs to ensure reach
2030-31
Wearable Patch
To introduce a personalized solution to monitor and respond to needs
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Deployed wearable hydration patches to older adults with respiratory conditions via healthcare providers and community hubs
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Patches monitored hydration, electrolyte levels, and environmental heat
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Tested and iterated the technology with real-time encrypted data collection to optimize accuracy and user experience
2031-33
Smart Water Bottle
To enhance immunity with tailored hydration solutions and nutritional science
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Introduced refillable water bottles integrated with nutrient-dispensing technology, linked to the patch
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Bottles were equipped with reminder systems that alert users to drink water when hydration levels are low or environmental heat increases
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Community hubs offered refilling stations with access to clean water and nutrient mixes
2033-35
References
1. Perkins-Kirkpatrick, S.E. and Lewis, S.C. (2020) ‘Increasing trends in regional heatwaves’, Nature Communications, 11(1), p. 3357. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16970-7
2. The main causes of UK heatwave deaths (no date) Taking Care Personal Alarms. Available at: https://taking.care/blogs/resources-advice/the-main-causes-of-uk-heatwave-deaths
3. May, A. (2022) Met Office says UK heatwave could hit 43C - with hottest area not in the South, The Mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/met-office-says-uk-heatwave-27507015
4. Observable Impacts of Community Led Support (no date) NDTi. Available at: https://www.ndti.org.uk/resources/publication/observable-impacts-of-community-led-support
5. AM, H.M., 2019. Emerging trends in the generation, transmission and protection of Traditional Knowledge. Indigenous Policy Journal, 30(1), pp.1-15
6. Xu, J. and Liu, S. (2024) ‘Current status, evolutionary path, and development trends of low-carbon technology innovation: a bibliometric analysis’, Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(9), pp. 24151–24182. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03640-z
7. Adams-Groom, B. et al. (2022) ‘Pollen season trends as markers of climate change impact: Betula, Quercus and Poaceae’, Science of The Total Environment, 831, p. 154882
8. Mousavi, F. et al. (2024) ‘Impacts of climate change on allergenic pollen production: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 349, p. 109948. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2024.109948
9. Caley, M. and Sidhu, K. (2011) ‘Estimating the future healthcare costs of an aging population in the UK: expansion of morbidity and the need for preventative care’, Journal of Public Health, 33(1), pp. 117–122. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdq044
10. Hasan, F. et al. (2021) ‘Effective Community-Based Interventions for the Prevention and Management of Heat-Related Illnesses: A Scoping Review’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), p. 8362. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168362
11. Chen, X. and He, B.-J. (2024) ‘Planning for heat-resilient 15 min-cities: Opportunities, measurement, mechanism, and pathways’, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 105, p. 107406. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2023.107406
12. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. (2024). Heat resilience and sustainable cooling: Fifth Report of Session 2023–24. HC 279
13. Hatvani-Kovacs, G. et al. (2016) ‘Drivers and barriers to heat stress resilience’, Science of The Total Environment, 571, pp. 603–614. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.028
14. Cheung, C.M.K., Lee, M.K.O. and Lee, Z.W.Y. (2013) ‘Understanding the continuance intention of knowledge sharing in online communities of practice through the post-knowledge-sharing evaluation processes’, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 64(7), pp. 1357–1374. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.22854
15. Guardaro, M. et al. (2022) ‘Adaptive capacity to extreme urban heat: The dynamics of differing narratives’, Climate Risk Management, 35, p. 100415. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2022.100415
16. Wang, Y. et al. (2022) ‘Assessment of walkability and walkable routes of a 15-min city for heat adaptation: Development of a dynamic attenuation model of heat stress’, Frontiers in Public Health, 10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1011391
17. UChicago researchers invent new fabric that reduces heat | University of Chicago News (2024). Available at: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/uchicago-researchers-invent-new-fabric-reduces-heat
18. Chen, X. et al. (2022) ‘The adverse effect of heat stress and potential nutritional interventions’, Food & Function, 13(18), pp. 9195–9207. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO01813F
19. Bettini, G. (2014) ‘Climate migration as an adaption strategy: de-securitizing climate-induced migration or making the unruly governable?’, Critical Studies on Security, 2(2), pp. 180–195. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/21624887.2014.909225
20. Climate and health security: Looking ahead to 2023 – UK Health Security Agency (2023)
21. Credits for illustrations for posters: StorySet