Case Studies

Heat Vulnerability Index

The ArcGIS StoryMap titled “Disparities in Heat Vulnerability in the United States” presents a thorough examination of how heat vulnerability disproportionately affects certain populations based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Developed by the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, it incorporates the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) to quantify determinants such as demographic, biological, and exposure factors. The study revealed that urban areas generally have higher HVI scores than non-urban areas, which correlates with historical redlining maps created by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) in the 1930s. Interacting with the map allows users to visualize the geographic distribution of HVI scores and understand the systemic nature of these disparities.