Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
FortyGuard, an Abu Dhabi-based startup backed by Hub71, is leveraging artificial intelligence to help cool down cities around the world by delivering comprehensive, real-time temperature data.
Addressing urban heat has never been more urgent. The World Meteorological Organisation recently confirmed that global temperatures in 2024 exceeded 1.5°C.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to enable the long-term global average surface temperature increase to be kept well below 2°C, and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
As global temperatures continue to rise, cities - often referred to as "heat islands" - are facing more intense temperature spikes.
In a presentation at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Jay Sadiq, Founder and CEO of FortyGuard, explained how his company is helping cities adapt to this challenge through cutting-edge data collection, analysis and distribution.
"Everyone relies on satellite data to collect temperature at scale, but satellite data is almost four kilometres per hour in resolution, and it's expensive if you want to narrow it down," Sadiq noted.
"At FortyGuard, not only do we measure 10m² granular data, but we're also 300 times more accurate at scale than the competition. And we're making our data not only precise but also affordable."
This granular approach allows the company to build sophisticated temperature models using machine learning, providing the first-ever comprehensive urban heat data that can be utilised by businesses and local governments alike.
To make this data accessible, FortyGuard is launching a suite of products, starting with its temperature dashboard.
The dashboard allows users to map and analyse local temperatures in real-time, providing actionable insights.
"Once you identify why it's hot, you can understand what can be done to cool it down," Sadiq said.
The dashboard eliminates the need for expensive sensor installations, making it instantly accessible to anyone without the lengthy and costly process of data collection and management.
"Everything you get at your fingertips, no millions of dollars spent on installing sensors, collecting them, getting the data, managing the data. Now you can do it instantly," Sadiq added.
FortyGuard is partnering with major companies like Google to integrate its temperature data into everyday applications.
"I want you to take your next walking distance for a cooler route instead of a shorter one when you use Google Maps," Sadiq said.
The company is also collaborating with automotive giants like Toyota, using its temperature predictive analytics to help optimise the range and durability of electric vehicle batteries.