Thallo

Team meeting at 11pm AEST, Australia
When the metro isn't running and your friend gives you false coms part 1
part 2

Inspiration

Our solution was inspired by the way natural canopies in rainforests regulate temperature. Under a canopy, the air is cooler, humidity is balanced, and ecosystems thrive. So we asked ourselves: what if our cities could work the same way? Just as rainforests use trees as natural shields against heat, urban areas can plant and protect tree cover to create their own cooling canopies. By mimicking this natural system, our project shows how increasing greenery in concrete-heavy spaces can lower urban temperatures by several degrees and make cities healthier, more liveable and cost-affordable.

What it does

This project maps and detects urban heat islands using live data from OpenWeatherMap, then shows how planting trees could cool the city by several degrees. It turns complex climate data into a simple, interactive tool that helps communities and planners see where the city is hottest and where nature can make the biggest impact.

How we built it

We built the project by integrating the OpenWeatherMap API to collect real-time temperature and climate data across Sydney. Using a mapping library Leaflet, we visualised hotspots as urban heat islands on an interactive web interface. We then added a feature that simulates the impact of planting trees, inspired by rainforest canopies, to show how greenery can reduce heat. Throughout development, we used AI to streamline coding and debugging, helping us build a clean, functional prototype more efficiently.

Challenges we ran into

UI problems including: Off-centred text, scrolling issues, unable to de-select heat islands Cost of APIs: Selecting a free, aesthetically pleasing API with a justifiable amount of calls

Accomplishments that we're proud of

First time completing a hackathon! - and creating a website that has the potential to positively impact Sydney. Successfully integrating OpenWeatherMap API and Leaflet

What we learned

How to integrate API keys into projects e.g. OpenWeatherMap and leaflet. How to apply nature-based inspiration to code Collaborate effectively under timed pressure. Balance multiple facets of code within one timeframe.

What's next for Thallo

Looking ahead, we hope to grow Thallo into a non-profit platform that researchers, geographers, and urban planners can use to study and address urban heat islands.

Built With

Submitted to

Comm-Stem Hackathon 2025

Created by

I worked on the core logic of how the application would function, including the very basics of the systems development life cycle, all the way through to cleanup and production.

Ishan Kulkarni
I worked on front-end, leading the API integration with Leaflet and Openweather. Furthermore, assessed and debugged UI/UX issues, such as that of scroll features, font, and heatmap sampling.

Kso6 Soytemiz
I worked on the front-end, making the UI aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. I also focused on creating a positive team bond so all my colleagues could collaborate effectively and I also filled out the worksheets.

Joshua Murphy