Inside an urban heat island, one street can be much hotter than its neighbor – new tech makes it easier to target cooling projects

A tree canopy can make a big difference in temperature for people on the street below. The challenge is getting trees where they're needed most. Andrey Denisyuk/Moment via Getty Images

It’s summer, and it’s been hot, even in northern cities such as Boston. But not everyone is hit with the heat in the same way, even within the same neighborhood.

Take two streets in Boston at 4:30 p.m. on a recent day, as an example. Standing in the sun on Lewis Place, the temperature was 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.6 degrees Celsius). On Dudley Common, it was 103 F (39.2 C). Both streets were hot, but the temperature on one was much more dangerous for people’s health and well-being.