Public Interest in Microclimate Data in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Lisa Reyes Mason, Jon M. Hathaway, Kelsey N. Ellis and Taylor Harrison
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Lisa Reyes Mason: College of Social Work, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Jon M. Hathaway: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Kelsey N. Ellis: Department of Geography, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Taylor Harrison: College of Social Work, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: New technologies can sense urban environmental conditions at finer scales than previously possible. This has paved the way for monitoring microclimates between and within neighborhoods. Equally vital, though much less studied, is stakeholder engagement in understanding and using such data. This study examines interests and preferences for accessing neighborhood-scale microclimate data among residents of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Data are from randomly sampled phone surveys (N = 200) and purposively sampled focus group participants (N = 25). Survey participants expressed high interest in neighborhood air quality, temperature, and rainfall. Focus groups revealed four themes for designing smartphone applications or websites for neighborhood-scale data: easy access to integrated data, clear and intuitive design, information for everyday living and healthy behavior, and tools for civic engagement. Results support the value of creating meaningful, usable science interfaces with which the public can readily engage.

Keywords: urban; neighborhood; weather; air quality; community; communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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