ProPolis: Basic conditions for implementing PALM-4U - practicability and continuation strategy

PALM-4U simulation analysis
© Shutterstock / Andrey_Popov / Fraunhofer IBP
Analysis of a PALM-4U simulation.

Towns and cities are very sensitive to changes in climate but are very slow to change themselves. Appropriate measures must therefore already be taken today to adapt cities to the anticipated consequences of climate change. Highly efficient urban climate models form an important basis for making planning decisions in cities in the future. These support daily planning tasks in the urban environment because they contribute to the adequate consideration of urban climate aspects.

Project goals

The objective of the BMBF funded project “Urban Climate under Change” is to develop an innovative and user-friendly urban climate model called “PALM-4U”. The model is intended to meet the needs of municipalities and other practical users, as well as to be suitable for scientific research. ProPolis is one of three projects aiming to achieve this goal.

The focus of Fraunhofer IBP’s work in ProPolis is on:

  • Developing a graphical user interface for PALM-4U for practical use in municipalities and planning offices.
  • Identifying typical as well as innovative areas of application for simulations with PALM-4U and implementation on concrete practical examples of the project partners.
  • Developing and testing training and support services for project partners in the field of capacity building.
  • Helping partners from municipalities and planning offices involved in ProPolis to implement PALM-4U on their own.
Simulation of pollutant emissions from road traffic
© Fraunhofer IBP
Simulation of pollutant emissions (nitrogen monoxide) from road traffic.
Ground level flow field calculated with PALM-4U
© Fraunhofer IBP
Near-ground flow field calculated with PALM-4U, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Berlin.