Artificial intelligence and cloud computing are transforming how scientists study urban ecosystems and climate adaptation. The Natural History Museum in London has deployed more than 50 sensors across its gardens, collecting over 11 million environmental data records to date, all powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud technology. This real-time monitoring system is helping researchers understand how cities can become more resilient to extreme heat and climate change.

What Data Are These Sensors Actually Collecting?

The sensor network in the museum's Nature Discovery Garden captures a remarkably detailed picture of urban environmental conditions. The data feeds into an AWS-powered Data Ecosystem that processes millions of observations from multiple sources simultaneously. This infrastructure allows researchers to spot patterns that would be invisible when examining data in isolation.

• Temperature and Humidity: Real-time readings that track how microclimates vary across different garden zones
• Acoustic Monitoring: Underwater acoustic recordings and bird call analysis to track wildlife presence and behavior
• Urban Noise Levels: Ambient sound monitoring to understand how human activity affects the ecosystem
• Soil Conditions: Moisture and temperature sensors that reveal how different surfaces respond to heat

The research has already yielded striking findings. During June 2026's heatwave, soil temperature sensors in the woodland area recorded temperatures 10 degrees Celsius lower than paved areas in the museum's Darwin Centre Courtyard, demonstrating how vegetation and permeable surfaces can mitigate urban heat.

How Can Cities Use This Research to Fight Urban Heat?

Scientists are using the long-term sensor data to build an evidence base for climate adaptation strategies that could be applied globally. The research examines how shade, soil moisture, permeable surfaces, and tree coverage influence local temperatures. By analyzing millions of data points collected over years, researchers can identify which combinations of factors most effectively cool urban environments.

"The Natural History Museum is showing what's possible when science and cloud technology come together. As the sensor network grows, the AWS-powered Data Ecosystem is able to scale to enable researchers to connect millions of environmental observations, revealing patterns that would otherwise remain invisible," said Hilary Tam, Sustainability Leader, EMEA, at AWS.

Hilary Tam, Sustainability Leader, EMEA, at AWS

The timing of this research is critical. July 2026 matched July 2024 as the second warmest July ever recorded worldwide, just behind the record set in July 2023. As global temperatures continue to rise, understanding how to design urban spaces that naturally resist heat becomes increasingly urgent for cities worldwide.

What Has the Biodiversity Monitoring Revealed?

Beyond climate research, the sensor network is providing unprecedented insights into urban wildlife. Since monitoring began in 1995, researchers have recorded more than 3,500 species using the garden, with the blackbird being the most frequently observed. Since the gardens reopened in 2024, researchers have identified 90 additional species that had not previously been recorded, including the Emperor Moth and Small Red-Eyed Damselfly.

"By collecting millions of data points, from temperature and humidity to bird song and underwater sound, we can build a far richer picture of how urban nature responds to various pressures and becomes more resilient to future environmental challenges," explained Ed Baker, Acoustic Biology Researcher at the Natural History Museum.

Ed Baker, Acoustic Biology Researcher at the Natural History Museum

The museum plans to expand the sensor network into its Evolution Garden, which receives higher visitor footfall and features different planting styles. This expansion will enable researchers to examine how visitor activity and habitat design affect biodiversity, creating new opportunities to study the relationship between urban environments, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.

How Is This Technology Scaling Beyond One Museum?

The AWS Data Ecosystem is designed to support coordinated research across multiple institutions. The centralized data environment allows scientists across the United Kingdom to work from a single platform, accelerating the pace of nature recovery research. The museum's open data approach, which provides access to more than 41 million specimen and research records through its online Data Portal, demonstrates how cloud infrastructure can democratize scientific discovery.

Amazon has committed to supporting this type of research through its $100 million Right Now Climate Fund, which backs restoration and conservation of forests, wetlands, and grasslands. The company's broader climate strategy includes investments in carbon removal technologies and landscape restoration projects. Together, these initiatives show how cloud infrastructure, data analytics, and financial commitment can support efforts to understand, restore, and protect natural ecosystems in the face of climate change.