WUDAPT Collect

The World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) is an initiative to collect data on the form and function of cities around the world. The impact of cities on the climate at urban, regional and global scales is a topic of considerable debate. Much of the relevant research to date has been focused on mapping urban centers using demographic and administrative information, often supplemented by remote sensing. However, these data provide no information on the internal make-up of cities, which is important for understanding their impact on the environment as well as their vulnerability to change. The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes the dearth of information on urban areas. The WUDAPT initiative is designed to fill this gap.