UTSA researchers use AI digital twins to fight 120-degree indoor heat

University of Texas at San Antonio researchers are using artificial intelligence and digital twin technology to combat urban heat islands by creating virtual replicas of homes to test renovation strategies. The three-year pilot project, funded by a $700,000 National Science Foundation grant, focuses on 10 homes in San Antonio’s West Side where indoor temperatures can reach 120 degrees without air conditioning, putting residents at risk of heat-related illnesses.

How it works: The UTSA team creates digital replicas of physical homes and uses AI models to simulate potential renovation options before implementing real-world changes.

• Researchers install sensors that track temperature, air quality, and dew readings in participating homes, with devices that change colors to indicate heat levels and air quality conditions.
• The digital twins allow researchers to test retrofit strategies virtually, helping identify the most effective improvements for each unique home structure.
• Residents receive tailored data from sensors and learn how to interpret color-coded readings to optimize cooling strategies, such as when to open windows based on outdoor air quality.

The scale of the problem: San Antonio faces a significant urban heat island crisis affecting the majority of its population.

• According to Climate Central, 88% of San Antonio’s population lives in urban heat islands—areas that experience higher temperatures than rural regions due to concentrated buildings and infrastructure.
• In 2023, the city reported 835 heat-related illnesses during the hottest summer on record, with numbers decreasing to 571 in 2024 and 432 as of September 2025.
• The research team has assessed nearly 600 homes in need of improvements, with many lacking central air conditioning and forcing families to cluster in single rooms with window units.

Real-world impact: The program has already delivered tangible benefits to participating residents like Ricardo and Laura Rodriguez, who lived without adequate cooling for over 40 years.

• After joining the program, the Rodriguez family received multiple improvements including tree planting for shade, metal roof replacement with shingles, and installation of central air conditioning and ceiling fans.
• The city’s coordinated approach includes the Cool Neighborhood Program, cool pavement projects, and tree planting initiatives targeting the most vulnerable areas identified through heat equity mapping.

What they’re saying: Project leaders emphasize the urgent need to address housing conditions that normalize heat-related health risks.

• “We cannot normalize people having heat strokes because they cannot have access to better housing conditions,” said Farzad Hashemi, UTSA assistant professor of architecture on the research team.
• “The goal is to understand the space and have a safe virtual reality type of situation for us to assess the house conditions and devise the best path of action to retrofit and improve the home quality,” explained Esteban López Ochoa, the project’s lead researcher and associate professor of urban and regional planning.
• Ricardo Rodriguez, a participating resident, said: “I recommend this (program). Because here in the neighborhood, there’s a lot of people that need help, especially older ones like me.”

Beyond San Antonio: The research has implications for heat mitigation efforts across Texas and the broader Southwest region.

• López Ochoa noted that extreme heat affects communities throughout Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley and colonias—low-income communities in unincorporated areas along the Mexican border.
• The team has submitted a National Institute of Health grant proposal to study extreme heat impacts on youth and housing conditions in the Valley, indicating plans for expanded research.
• Reports and videos documenting the project’s findings will be available by October 2026, providing a roadmap for other cities facing similar challenges.