This trip laid a strong foundation for the project, "Development of a Heat Vulnerability Index Toolkit for Ho Chi Minh City to Support Nature-Based Solutions for Smart and Sustainable Cities," which will be a collaboration with Dr. Trinh Tran and Dr. Seng Kiong Kok from RMIT Vietnam.
The primary objective of this research project is to develop a comprehensive Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) toolkit tailored specifically for Ho Chi Minh City. By integrating multi-dimensional data, including Earth observation data, socio-economic, and health-related datasets, and employing geospatial analysis techniques, the team aims to identify and map.
During her visit, Assoc Prof Sun attended the launch of the Smart and Sustainable Cities Hub. The event provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with local researchers and officials, discussing their vision for smarter and more sustainable cities in Vietnam. The focus on innovation and community-driven approaches aligns perfectly with the research goals.
She also met with researchers from Ho Chi Minh University’s Natural Resources Management Department. They explored the potential for a joint grant proposal to address urban heat islands, a critical issue for urban development.
Specific outcomes from the trip include:
This trip underscored the importance of cross-campus collaboration in developing innovative solutions for urban challenges. With the support of the RMIT Vietnam Smart and Sustainable Cities Hub, Assoc Prof Sun's team, including Dr. Trinh Tran and Dr. Seng Kiong Kok, is dedicated to advancing the heat vulnerability assessment toolkit for Ho Chi Minh City.