The RETIME project to develop new strategies for climate-resilient cities

Co-funded by the European Union, RETIME will develop and test in three pilot areas urban adaptation solutions, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.

By integrating participatory methodologies with a data-driven framework, the project will characterise vulnerable groups and critical hotspots, enhance building resilience, deliver context-specific adaptation plans, and increase public awareness of natural and human-induced disasters and their impacts.

Coordinated by ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, RETIME is co-funded by the European Union with approximately 5 million euros and runs until April 2028. It brings together 18 partners from 8 European countries, including universities, research centres, SMEs, non-profit organisations, and public authorities.

RETIME will introduce a data-driven tool for aggregating existing data from weather stations, sensor networks, and satellite images, combined with automated on-site surveys that integrate 3D models and simulate the impacts of current and projected phenomena. The project will develop four adaptation solutions to reduce risks in urban areas: a sensor-based IT automated alert system, a digital building twin, a building renovation passport, a resilience knowledge hub and decision support platform.

These solutions will be conceived and tested in three pilot areas: Lisbon (Portugal), Žilina (Slovakia), and Tartu (Estonia), providing guidelines and tools for scaling up and adapting to other European urban areas.

"RETIME adopts a people-centred and place-based approach that will allow us to develop innovative tools, provide timely alerts to the relevant stakeholders, improve building resilience, and minimise the impact of future disasters", said Catarina Ferreira da Silva, Project Coordinator. "We expect the results of this project to contribute to improving energy efficiency and independence, transitioning to zero-emission buildings, and lowering environmental impacts."

The project targets local governments, city planners, building owners, and other urban stakeholders involved in climate resilience and mitigation and provides them with effective adaptation tools and comprehensive knowledge. Ultimately, RETIME aims to benefit urban populations, with particular attention to diverse vulnerable groups who are most susceptible to the impacts of climate-related events.

Provided by iCube Programme