An open-source GIS user interface for the TARGET climate model in the Urban Multi-scale Environmental Predictor (UMEP) tool

The Air-temperature Response to Green/blue-infrastructure Evaluation Tool (TARGET) is a compact urban climate model designed to predict intra-urban temperatures and assess city cooling strategies. Until now, the lack of a user interface has limited its broader adoption. This study presents an open-source interface for TARGET, integrated within the Urban Multi-scale Environmental Predictor (UMEP) tool in QGIS. The interface supports a complete workflow, including input data preparation, simulation, and output visualisation. Its applicability is demonstrated through a case study in Zurich, Switzerland, where it identified thermal hotspots and quantified the cooling benefits of targeted interventions. By lowering technical barriers, UMEP-TARGET enhances the accessibility of physically based urban temperature modelling for both the scientific community and practitioners, supporting evidence-based planning for climate adaptation.