An article led by Hao entitled "Unveiling community adaptations to extreme heat events using mobile phone location data" was recently accepted by the Journal of Environmental Management. Congratulations!
This study leveraged cell phone location data to explore how communities in the greater Houston metropolitan area adjust their mobility behaviors during extreme heat events. By introducing two innovative indices - the Mobility Disruption Index (MDI) and the Activity Time Shift Index (ATSI) - the study quantifies changes in daily mobility and activity patterns, revealing significant reductions in daytime mobility and increases in evening activity. The study also highlights significant differences in heat acclimatization, particularly in minority and low-income communities.
Key Findings:
Daytime Mobility Reduction: The study reveals that human mobility in Houston significantly decreases during extreme heat events, particularly during the daytime. Notably, there is an increase in activity after 8 p.m., accompanied by a delay in evening travel times.
Spatial Heterogeneity: These mobility and activity shifts are not uniform across the region. Instead, there is substantial spatial heterogeneity, with different census block groups exhibiting varying levels of adaptation.
Heat Adaptation Inequities: The study found that communities with higher proportions of minorities and those living in poverty are less equipped to adopt effective heat adaptation strategies. This finding highlights not just the physical exposure disparities but also the inequities in adaptive capacities.
For more: Tian, H., Cai, H., Hu, L., Qiang, Y., Zhou, B., Yang, M., & Lin, B. (2024). Unveiling community adaptations to extreme heat events using mobile phone location data. Journal of Environmental Management, 366, 121665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121665
Figure 1. Workflow of the study
Figure 2. The spatial distribution of (a) daytime MDI, (b) nighttime MDI, and (c) ATSI, coupled with corresponding counts of census block groups with different levels.
Congratulations to Hao Tian, and we look forward to hearing more achievements and works from the GIResilience lab members! Gig'em!