Health, the environment and climate in the Ruhr region: a focus on social area data and hotspots for prevention

Data analysis on the prevention of health impacts caused by climate-related extreme weather events and other environmental factors in selected social settings in the Ruhr region

Project overview:

The project and its objectives

klEx Ruhr is part of the ‘Social Medicine Data Network’ development focus area of the Digital Health Factory Ruhr and forms a key pilot and analysis project within the overall Data4Health.Ruhr initiative.

The aim of the research project is to collate and analyse social, health and environmental data within the framework of the social-medical data network. To this end, selected social areas in the city of Oberhausen and the district of Recklinghausen are being analysed at a local level to identify health risks arising from extreme weather events such as heat, cold and flooding, as well as from other environmental factors, including air pollution, noise pollution and the availability of green spaces.

The procedure

By linking different data sources, the aim is to identify particularly affected neighbourhoods and vulnerable population groups, and to investigate combinations of environmental factors relevant to health. On this basis, evidence-based approaches for behavioural and structural prevention measures will be developed.

The scientific relevance of the project lies in the growing significance of climate- and environment-related pressures on public health, as well as in the current lack of integrated, small-scale analyses in the Ruhr region. klEx Ruhr creates a data-based foundation for this purpose, to support local authorities in planning and implementing targeted health promotion and prevention measures.

Project Partners:

Bochum University of Applied Sciences