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Short Abstract

Urban ReLeaf explores how sensors, apps, and mapping tools can advance citizen science in European cities. This contribution shares lessons on designing tech-enabled approaches that turn local observations into trusted, actionable evidence for urban policy and planning.

Abstract

Urban ReLeaf is an ongoing Horizon Europe project that explores how citizens, municipalities, and researchers can use technology (i.e. sensors, mobile apps, and digital mapping tools) to monitor heat stress, air quality, and greenspaces across six European cities. The pilots show both the promise and the pitfalls of tech-enabled citizen science. In Athens, municipal workers integrate wearables for measuring heat stress into their daily routines; in Riga residents trace routes with sensors and comfort logs, complemented by community air quality monitoring to shape greening plans; and in Cascais participants map thermal comfort, as well as their perception of greenspaces to guide climate adaptation planning. These cases highlight a central challenge: while technology can generate robust environmental evidence, inclusion depends on how tools are designed and governed.

Our research focuses on addressing several key challenges in tech-enabled citizen science: designing inclusive recruitment and engagement strategies; combining subjective perceptions with technical datasets in meaningful and actionable ways; strengthening citizen data literacy and analytical capacity; and building governance systems that ensure citizen contributions are trusted and acted upon by municipal authorities. At this workshop, I will share lessons from Urban ReLeaf and collectively explore ways to design and leverage technologies that make citizen science accessible, inclusive, and impactful for urban governance.