HEAT for walking and cycling is a user-friendly, web-based tool used to estimate the health and economic impacts of increased walking and cycling. In its current version the HEAT tool supports assessments of the health and economic impacts of walking and cycling on premature mortality in an integrated manner through changes in physical activity levels, exposure to air pollution while walking or cycling, and risk of fatal crashes in traffic. In addition, the tool also estimates the impacts on carbon emissions due to shifts between active and motorized travel modes.  

HEAT for walking and cycling can be used for health-based assessments of current levels of cycling or walking, as well as the anticipated health benefits or harms of policies, strategies and projects that lead to changes in walking and cycling population levels. A main premise of the tool has been its usability, making it feasible to run a basic assessment in short time and with minimal user inputs. At the same time, the tool guarantees a robust scientific standard, reflecting the latest research, and transparency of assumptions, through an elaborate expert consensus process. (More information about HEAT for walking and cycling.)

HEAT for walking and cycling is designed to serve a wide variety of professionals at both national and local levels, which includes urban and transport planners, public health practitioners and special interest groups working on the interface between transport, health and the environment. The tool can be used at different contexts, from national to sub-city scales, and is now adapted for global use, with the HEAT 5.0 version soft launched at the COP26 (November 2021).

To report a problem in any of the tool’s page, please activate the feedback mode within the tool.

• Integrated Sustainable Transport Health Assessment Tool (iSThAT)    

iSThAT estimates transport fleet emissions based on age and composition, and projects carbon dioxide emissions’ reductions, improved air quality, physical activity, and health and economic benefits due to reduced deaths and disease from shifts to sustainable transport.  

• ITHIM

ITHIM (Integrated Transport and Health Impact Modelling Tool) performs integrated urban and national level assessments of the health impacts of transport scenarios and policies, including: changes in physical activity, road traffic injury risk, and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution (i.e. transportation mode shift). ITHIM estimates the health impacts of scenarios, compares the impact of travel patterns in different places, and models the impact of interventions. Changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions can also be modelled.

• Non-Motorized Transport – Project Appraisal Tool – NMT 

NMT-PAT (Non-Motorized Transportation – Project Appraisal Tool) is an Excel-based tool to calculate the costs, and health, social, economic and environmental benefits of walking and cycling projects using common, aggregate transport and economic data, and local institutional knowledge to gain insight into the viability of NMT infrastructure projects in cities.