Smartwatches & cool roofs used to monitor heat stress in Ahmedabad’s low-income areas

This year, Ahmedabad experienced a heatwave three weeks earlier than usual, with temperatures hitting 43°C in early April. As heat becomes increasingly unbearable, researchers are testing innovative ways to help the city’s most vulnerable residents adapt.

Following which, in the Vanzara Vas community, 204 residents are participating in a year-long study using smartwatches. These devices monitor heart rate, pulse, and sleep patterns, while participants also receive weekly blood pressure checks. The goal is to understand how extreme heat affects people in informal settlements.

Researchers have also applied reflective paint to select rooftops in Vanzara Vas to test the effectiveness of “cool roofs” in reducing indoor temperatures. Heat sensors will compare painted homes with untreated ones to evaluate whether this affordable intervention can make a measurable difference in comfort.

Residents like Shantaben have already noticed the benefits. “The painted roof has made it easier to sleep,” she was quoted saying.

The Ahmedabad research is part of a broader international project studying heat effects on low-income communities in Burkina Faso, Mexico’s Sonoran desert, and Niue near New Zealand. Over 1.1 billion people live in similarly precarious conditions worldwide, especially exposed to the worsening effects of climate change.