Project Sources
Data & Research Basis
The primary datasets and documents used to build this index.
Canva · Project Document
Competitive Analysis (Milestone 1)
A survey of existing heat-health tools and data visualizations that shaped the design direction of this project.
California Open Data Portal · Updated 2026
CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Results
Census tract–level data including asthma percentile and pollution percentile for California — the core dataset powering the risk scores in this index.
Creator Conducted · Primary Research
User Research (Milestone 2)
Quotes and takeaways from interviews with industry professionals and potential users, used to validate the index's design and scope.
Heat Relief & Local Action
Resources for LA Residents
Programs, emergency guidance, and policy initiatives for people experiencing heat risk in Los Angeles.
City of LA · Climate Emergency Mobilization Office
Heat Relief 4 LA
The City of Los Angeles's heat-relief program — connecting residents to cooling centers, shade structures, and community events during extreme heat emergencies.
LA County Emergency Management
LA County Heat Preparedness Guide
Official LA County guidance on staying safe during extreme heat, including how to locate cooling centers, protect vulnerable family members, and recognize early signs of heat illness.
LA County Chief Sustainability Office
County Heat Action Plan
LA County's formal multi-agency strategy for reducing heat-related illness and death, with targeted protections for vulnerable communities and long-term cooling infrastructure goals.
Health & Asthma
Respiratory Health in Southern California
Organizations addressing the intersection of air quality and respiratory health across the LA region.
LA County Department of Public Health
Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County (ACLAC)
A collaborative network of community organizations, healthcare providers, and advocates working to reduce asthma disparities and improve respiratory outcomes for children and families across LA County.
Breathe Southern California
BEAM — Breathe Easier Asthma Management
An in-home asthma management program providing hands-on education and support across Southern California, helping patients reduce emergency visits through proactive, personalized care.
Further Reading
Journalism & Peer-Reviewed Research
Articles and studies on urban heat, health disparities, and environmental inequity for those who want to go deeper.
Grist · Molly Peterson
How Urban Heat Islands Threaten Public Health
An accessible explainer on why built-up cities like LA amplify heat risk, and how that heat concentrates in lower-income neighborhoods with less tree cover and more pavement.
Journal of Public Health · Springer
Heat Exposure and Adverse Health Outcomes
A peer-reviewed study examining how extreme heat exposure correlates with worsening health outcomes, with findings directly relevant to the risk gradients mapped in this index.
Nature Communications · 2025
Urban Heat & Health Vulnerability
A 2025 study analyzing the compounding relationship between urban heat exposure, socioeconomic vulnerability, and health disparities across city neighborhoods — with implications for climate adaptation planning.
Science Advances · AAAS
Heat Inequality in Urban Environments
Research demonstrating that heat exposure is unequally distributed across urban landscapes along lines of income and race — and what that means for environmental justice and climate adaptation policy.