Observe how the space is used
Identify who uses the space, where they walk, wait and gather, and when direct sun and heat affect their activities.
Free climate-responsive public-space learning
Desert Futures
Better shade. Safer outdoor life. Stronger public places.
Learn how schools, community groups, planners and public-space teams can understand heat exposure and plan outdoor places that are more usable. Desert Futures provides structured first-step guidance, not engineering design, medical protocols or claims about compliance in any GCC country.
Cost to accessFree
Login requiredNo
First stepAssess a real outdoor space
Who this is for
A useful starting point, wherever you are in the process.
Open to students, practitioners and community members. The aim is to help people prepare better questions—not to imply that Apollo supervises local conservation or infrastructure projects.
Schools and education campusesMunicipal and public-space teamsCommunity sport organisersUrban designers and landscape plannersResorts and neighbourhood organisations
Your learning pathway
From an idea to a responsible next step.
Work through these stages in order, or jump directly to the guide most relevant to your situation.
Map exposure and vulnerable users
Consider age, accessibility, service roles, length of stay and safe access to cooling, shade and water; work with responsible local teams.
Compare practical responses
Look at trees, shade, orientation, resting areas, materials and operational measures together rather than assuming a single canopy solves heat risk.
Prepare a site discussion sheet
Use the worksheet to distinguish observations, immediate operational questions and design or engineering issues needing qualified local advice.
Check the responsible authorities
Use official health, municipal and project requirements before construction, opening or public safety claims.
Free field guide library
Start learning. Make the next decision clearer.
Four practical guides to understanding heat exposure in the places people use every day. Each finishes with a concrete planning output.
01 / FIELD GUIDE · About 10 minutes
Heat-smart school grounds: a planning primer
A practical route to identifying exposed arrival areas, outdoor learning spaces and playground priorities.
Read free guide 02 / FIELD GUIDE · About 9 minutesShade and walkability in hot climates
Understand why connected comfort across an entire journey matters more than isolated shaded landmarks.
Read free guide 03 / FIELD GUIDE · About 9 minutesPlanning cooler parks and gathering spaces
A people-first checklist for markets, parks, promenades and community courtyards.
Read free guide 04 / FIELD GUIDE · About 10 minutesHeat-resilient outdoor sports and recreation
Plan outdoor exercise spaces around exposure, people, supervision and safer operations.
Read free guideVerified regional context
Learn from official country resources.
National policies, marine governance and heat-health rules are not interchangeable. Use these country learning gateways and independent research notes to prepare better local questions.
COUNTRY LEARNING HUBS
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman
Official-source context, guided activities and country-specific responsibilities.
Explore the country hubs EVIDENCE-LED RESEARCHWhat actual documented sources say
Desk-based analyses that separate verified facts, educational interpretation and missing evidence.
Read Research & Field NotesStructured learning
Build understanding at your own pace.
Follow five free Academy modules in this programme, and explore an interactive visual Atlas. No certificate, sign-up or purchase is required.
Free to use · No email required
Download a complete learning pack.
Take the discussion into a classroom or community meeting. These original, printable resources include a facilitator route, practical exercise and planning worksheet.
ORIGINAL FIELD RESOURCE6 PAGES · PDF
School-ground learning kit
The Heat-Smart School
A whole-school-day learning session covering exposure around arrival, play, waiting and departure. Includes cooling, water, accessibility and operational responsibility questions.
School leaders, staff, estates teams and families
Inside the pack
- Heat and school-day exposure principles
- Guided planning session
- Whole-day exposure mapping exercise
- School planning worksheet
- WHO/UNEP references and review checklist
Build a school-ground discussion map that recognises shade, drinking water, cool areas and local heat-safety policies.
ORIGINAL FIELD RESOURCE6 PAGES · PDF
Public-space discussion toolkit
A Cooler Journey
A guided look at shade continuity across walking, waiting and gathering routes, including accessibility, rest points, maintenance and municipal review.
Public-space teams, councils and community planners
Inside the pack
- Connected public-space comfort principles
- One-hour facilitated workshop
- Whole-journey planning exercise
- Route discussion worksheet
- Local specialist review prompts and references
Draft an end-to-end journey brief without inventing temperature reductions, approvals or performance ratings.
Learning resources are produced by Apollo NZ Global. Referenced public institutions are independent sources, not sponsors or programme partners. Local approval, health guidance and professional responsibilities always take priority.
Practical project preparation
Write a clearer discussion brief.
Use the Community Project Pathfinder to record observations, stakeholders, evidence gaps and local approvals worth checking. No entries are submitted to Apollo.
Free interactive planning tool
Heat-Smart Public Space Starter
Build a discussion-ready first-look plan. Your entries remain on your device; no personal information is sent to Apollo. Use it to prepare a conversation with the relevant community, school or local authority.
1. Describe the place and the issue
Continue with trusted expertise
Established public resources worth exploring.
These external organisations own and maintain their material. They are independent references, not programme sponsors, partners or endorsements of Apollo.
World Health Organization · External resource
Heat and health
Authoritative explanation of heat risk, vulnerability and protective measures.
UN Environment Programme · External resourceBeating the Heat: Sustainable Cooling Handbook
Urban cooling and joined-up strategies for cities and districts.
UN Environment Programme · External resourceUrban cooling and extreme heat
Broader city-scale cooling and heat adaptation resources.
Helpful answers
Common questions, clear boundaries.
What the learning programme can help with, and what must remain with authorised local teams.
Does installing shade make an outdoor area safe in extreme heat?
No. Heat risk also depends on weather, exertion, humidity, individual vulnerability, available cooling, water and operating rules. Responsible schools and facilities must follow local health guidance and suspend activity when necessary.
Do these guides recommend a specific safe outdoor temperature?
No. Operating thresholds are activity-, setting- and jurisdiction-specific. Applicable public-health guidance, sport rules and qualified local professionals must determine safe practices.
Can schools or municipalities use the worksheets for free?
Yes. The guides and planning worksheets are open to anyone and require no account or purchase. They help structure early conversations; they do not approve a design or constitute an engineering report.
Does the programme cover UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman?
The principles provide a broad starting point for hot climates, including Gulf markets. Local municipality, building, accessibility, health and school requirements must be checked separately for the relevant country and city.
Does Apollo install community shade or recreation facilities?
No. Apollo's commercial business is supply-only. Any project engineering, installation, public-safety assessment and statutory approval must be arranged by the local purchaser and their qualified teams.
Respectful boundaries
Learning is valuable. Local authority still matters.
- Local public-health alerts and official heat guidance take priority over this educational material.
- Shade alone does not make an outdoor facility safe in extreme heat; activity controls and access to cooler places can be essential.
- Any structures, foundations, accessibility provisions, fire and building approvals require qualified local review.
Programme content is educational and general. It does not constitute engineering, health, legal or environmental professional advice; no certification, sponsorship or public funding is claimed.
More to explore
Take this learning further.
Browse the other open programme, or return to the broader Apollo knowledge library.