Cities have a nasty habit of turning into giant ovens in summer, but until recently, we mostly knew that from overheated anecdotes—not data. Now, thanks to a deep‑learning model that maps heat stress at the meter level, we’ve got a new way to see exactly where asphalt becomes unbearable and which streets sneak in some relief. This isn’t just a tech flex. It’s a flashlight on urban misery. Think about it: planning committees debate tree canopy or cooling centers like they’re chess moves. Meanwhile, people on the ground are roasting. These heat maps orient planning toward the lived experience—showing planners where shade matters most, where sidewalk materials deserve a second look, and where the next cooling intervention could actually save someone’s blistered afternoon. The real shocker? Your pedestrian count isn’t just facing climate—it’s fighting it. A block may look walkable on paper, but midday? Invisible. This tool bridges that gap. It’s part climate science, part empathy, and all about making the city legible to its heat‑hungry inhabitants. It also points to a bigger shift: planning built on high‑resolution truth rather than abstract averages. Cities talk about resilience, but without knowing which corners fry first, it’s just posturing. These maps offer a blueprint for relief, rooted in the actual experience of heat. In short: if you care about humane cities, start caring about where reflections meet real bodies. And vote for trees on those hottest corners—maps like these make the case impossible to ignore.

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