ALDA Hubs & Voices

BUILDSPACE Series - EcoEnergyHub Ep. 5: Staying Above Water - Urban Flood Analysis and Resilience

💧 Season finale: Episode 5 of the EcoEnergyHub Podcast is out! Today, we explore one of the most urgent climate challenges for cities: floods. We focus on Buildspace Service 5: Urban Flood Analysis and Resilience, a tool that combines satellite imagery, Copernicus services, and local weather and infrastructure data to: 1️⃣Identify areas at high risk of flooding 2️⃣Simulate different flood scenarios 3️⃣Test interventions like retention basins, drainage improvements, and blue-green infrastructure 4️⃣Support spatial planning to protect people, property, and essential services The service has already been piloted in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Joining us are: * Tijs Maes (Nazka Mapps) – contributing to satellite data integration and flood modelling visualization * Kristina Klemen (IMZI) – both a developer of the service and pilot lead for Ljubljana Tune in to the final episode to discover how Buildspace is helping cities prepare for floods, safeguard communities, and enhance urban resilience.

BUILDSPACE Series - EcoEnergyHub Ep. 4: Beating the Heat - Urban Heat Analysis and Resilience

Today, we tackle one of the biggest challenges facing cities: urban heat.We dive into Buildspace Urban Heat Analysis and Resilience Service, a tool that helps cities understand where and why heat builds up and how to respond with effective, targeted solutions. Using satellite imagery and on-the-ground data, this service can: 1️⃣Identify urban heat intensity and distribution 2️⃣Visualize vulnerable groups most affected by heat 3️⃣Pinpoint areas for cooling strategies 4️⃣Support resilience planning and provide long-term adaptation guidelines The service has already been piloted in Piraeus, Greece, a city at the frontline of rising temperatures and urban density challenges.Joining us are the experts behind the service: * Patricia San Nicolas Vargas (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) – co-leading development * Michail Bourmpos (Municipality of Piraeus) – providing real-world experience from the pilot project

BUILDSPACE Series - EcoEnergyHub Ep. 3: Future‑Proof Power - Predicting and Cutting Building Energy Use

Today, we’re focusing on the energy side of urban resilience with Buildspace’s Built Environment Climate Scenarios Service.This innovative tool allows cities to:1️⃣Analyze current building energy use 2️⃣Forecast future energy demand 3️⃣Identify energy-saving upgrades 4️⃣Evaluate rooftops for solar panel potentialThe service has already been piloted in Riga, Latvia, helping local planners make data-driven decisions to reduce energy use and improve sustainability.Joining us are the experts behind this tool: * Victor Ivan Serna (CARTIF) – leading development of the tool * Iason Dimitriou (NTUA) – responsible for solar potential features * Valdis Ratniks (Riga Planning Region) – overseeing pilot implementation Tune in to discover how Buildspace is helping cities make smarter, energy-efficient decisions that benefit both people and the planet.

BUILDSPACE Series - EcoEnergyHub Ep. 2: Smart Buildings, Real Impact - Services at the Building Level

Today, we dive into two cutting-edge services developed within Buildspace for smarter, more energy-efficient buildings: 1️⃣Digital Twin Generation: creating detailed digital replicas of buildings to simulate and analyze energy performance. 2️⃣Digital Twin Enrichment: enhancing and refining building data for more accurate insights and decision making. We also explore how these services have been piloted in Poland by Mostostal Warszawa, demonstrating real-world impact. Joining us in this episode are the experts making it happen: * Ya Wen (University of Cambridge) – Digital Twin Generation specialist * Luis Javier Sanchez (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) – Digital Twin Enrichment expert * Piotr Dymarski (Mostostal Warszawa) – leading the pilot implementation

BUILDSPACE Series - EcoEnergyHub Ep. 1: BUILDSPACE Technology for Resilient Cities

We kick off the series with a deep dive into BUILDSPACE: how the project was born, its mission, and how its 5 innovative services aim to enhance building energy efficiency, urban resilience, and sustainability across Europe. To guide us through this story, we’re joined by three distinguished guests: * Valeria Fantini – Project Manager and Environment & Climate HUB Coordinator at ALDA, bringing insights into stakeholder engagement, citizen participation, and community-led resilience. * Stamatia Rizou – R&D Manager at SingularLogic and Project Leader of BUILDSPACE, offering a deep look into the project’s coordination and technological vision. * Valeria Catalano – Project Officer at EUSPA, the EU Agency for the Space Programme, sharing how European space data and services support innovation within BUILDSPACE. Together, they unpack the origins, ambitions, and future impact of BUILDSPACE