The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona has launched a GPS that not only calculates the shortest route but also seeks the path with the most shade and least incline to avoid extreme heat.
The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) has activated a global positioning system (GPS) designed for pedestrians to navigate the Catalan capital while avoiding areas of direct sunlight. The tool, dubbed the cool route finder, is available in a trial phase through a website and allows users to plan walking routes adapted to heatwaves.
A GPS that prioritises shade over extreme heat
The CEO of the AMB’s Climate Action Area, Guille López, has emphasised that extreme heat is already a reality affecting metropolitan neighbourhoods every summer. “Protecting the health of citizens in the face of climate change is a matter of social justice and a top political responsibility,” he stated. With this goal in mind, the AMB has developed a GPS that differs from conventional ones: it not only suggests the shortest route but also seeks the path that avoids the sun, passing through the maximum number of shaded areas and with little incline.
The tool works by indicating the starting point —an address, coordinates, or directly on the map— and offers two options: to find the coolest route to a specific destination or to locate a nearby climate refuge. These refuges are municipal spaces where citizens can shelter from the heat, such as libraries, civic centres, or parks with tree cover.
Incline and walkability: keys to avoiding heatstroke
In calculating the route with the least solar exposure, the AMB system takes into account three factors: shade, incline, and walkability. The option to reduce the degree of positive incline is particularly relevant, as steep slopes, combined with extreme heat, increase the risk of heatstroke. “With extreme heat, the body generates internal metabolic heat which, along with the ambient temperature, can be dangerous,” AMB sources explain.
This feature is especially useful for elderly people or those with reduced mobility, who are the most vulnerable during heatwaves. Additionally, the route finder scores each itinerary out of 100 based on its coolness and walkability, allowing users to compare options. For now, the application is only available in web version, although the AMB is considering its integration into a mobile app for next summer.
Climate refuges: the metropolitan network against heat
The GPS also integrates the Xarxa metropolitana de refugis climàtics (XMRC), which concentrates municipal facilities and public spaces with air conditioning or natural shade. In Barcelona city, the network includes everything from libraries to sports centres, as well as gardens and tree-lined squares. For residents of the metropolitan area, this tool represents a practical advance: no longer do they have to wait for autumn to take a walk; with a couple of clicks, they can chart a route that avoids the sun’s rays.
For the moment, the tool is in a trial period and can be accessed on the website set up by the AMB. Technicians are already working to expand the data on shade and incline to all metropolitan municipalities, with the aim of being fully operational by next summer.
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