Publications by authors named "Kerrie Burge"
Article Synopsis
- Urban heat islands (UHIs) are widespread in cities, but their impact in tropical informal settlements, like Makassar, Indonesia, is not well understood, particularly given the health risks associated with elevated temperatures.
- Over a 29-year period, researchers used satellite data and ground temperature measurements to show that UHIs in Makassar can be as much as 9.2°C higher, with informal settlements experiencing a 6.3°C increase, driven by changes in surrounding non-urban areas.
- Maintaining green and blue spaces can help mitigate extreme UHI effects; areas further from coastlines and with low vegetation index (NDVI < 0.2) face significantly higher temperatures, making effective urban planning that prioritizes green space essential for combating
Background: The intense interactions between people, animals and environmental systems in urban informal settlements compromise human and environmental health. Inadequate water and sanitation services, compounded by exposure to flooding and climate change risks, expose inhabitants to environmental contamination causing poor health and wellbeing and degrading ecosystems. However, the exact nature and full scope of risks and exposure pathways between human health and the environment in informal settlements are uncertain.
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- The RISE study investigates how upgrading informal urban settlements can improve public health by reducing exposure to contaminated environments in Makassar, Indonesia, and Suva, Fiji.
- It is a cluster randomised controlled trial with 12 settlements in each city, where half will receive a water-sensitive infrastructure intervention while the others serve as controls.
- The study focuses on health outcomes in children under 5, examining gastrointestinal pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and broader factors like ecological biodiversity and community well-being.