The Problem: Thermal inequality and exclusion in urban design In Cancun, current urban design disproportionately penalizes a vital but silenced sector: female caretakers. When thermometers exceed 45°C on the asphalt of “heat islands”, temperature stops being a simple meteorological phenomenon and becomes a deep social conflict.
Traditionally, urban planning has ignored this friction. However, 32.7% of households in Cancun are female-headed. These are thousands of women who travel through a hostile environment daily to manage economic support and care for vulnerable populations (children and the elderly). Avoiding talking about this invisible burden is avoiding the real development of the city.
The PAAKTO Approach: Data to democratize dialogue At PAAKTO, we know that to resolve a conflict we must first make it objectively visible. We do not use data science to dictate solutions from above, but to level the playing field of public consultation.
We cross-reference census data with Landsat 8 satellite thermal imagery to create an Integral Sensitivity Index. The finding was clear: areas with the highest density of children and households led by women are, alarmingly, the hottest urban spots. By excluding the Hotel Zone, we focused on where everyday life actually takes place. This data is not the end of the process; it is the perfect tool to initiate an informed and transparent public consultation.
From Friction to Agreement: Co-designed Solutions We identified critical zones, such as the areas surrounding Av. López Portillo and the exit to Mérida, where the lack of piped water clashes with the urgency of shaded routes. Instead of imposing infrastructure, at PAAKTO we use these findings to structure a participatory process around three axes of community negotiation:
- Green Corredors (Av. López Portillo - “El Crucero”): We facilitate dialogue between merchants, pedestrians, and authorities to redesign the space. Conflict over sidewalk use is transformed into agreements to implement urban trees that mitigate thermal stress.
- Bioclimatic Transit Stops (Av. Andrés Quintana Roo - Puerto Juárez): Simply placing a roof is not enough; we consult public transport users to design rest and shade spaces that respond to their actual care journeys.
- Universal Accessibility (Calle 19 and Av. Tulum): We address the natural friction between property owners and pedestrians to free up transit corridors and regulate facades, ensuring the safety of those with lower physiological capacity to regulate their temperature.
The Result: Mitigating heat is not just about planting trees; it is an exercise in governance. By addressing conflict around the use of public space and facilitating continuous communication between the population and the government, we not only reduce thermal vulnerability but also regenerate the social fabric and transform how the community interacts with its environment.