Cooling Urban Heat in Doha with Satellite-Guided Greening

At FoundationAI, we believe climate intelligence should directly improve daily life in cities. One recurring challenge in fast-growing urban environments is pedestrian heat exposure, especially in locations with limited shade during hotter months.

To address this, our team explored a practical question: if satellite systems can measure land surface temperature at scale, can we also simulate the potential cooling impact of greening before projects are implemented on the ground?

Using European Space Agency (ESA) satellite data, we built a focused prototype for Doha that maps urban temperature patterns across neighborhoods and corridors. The experience allows planners and stakeholders to test greening interventions, such as planting trees or adding green spaces, and assess where those actions can reduce heat most effectively.

The prototype was developed during Earthna week in Doha, where conversations around climate, urban resilience, and sustainability highlighted the need for tools that connect data to actionable planning. The result is a concrete example of how Earth observation and AI can support livable-city decisions with measurable outcomes.

This use case reflects FoundationAI's broader mission: turning remote-sensing data into decision-ready climate insights that help governments, institutions, and communities design more resilient urban futures.