Tashkent Introduces Climate-Adaptive Navigation in Yandex Maps

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has joined a growing list of nations implementing climate-adaptive digital navigation by introducing pedestrian routing that accounts for shade and high temperatures alongside distance and time.

In August 2026, Yandex Maps launched a pilot "green" routing feature in Tashkent, allowing pedestrians to select paths with greater tree canopy coverage and reduce exposure to direct sunlight.

Tashkent became the first city in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States to introduce shaded pedestrian routing in a mainstream mapping service, according to international technology publication Techloy. Globally, similar climate-adaptive navigation initiatives operate in the United States, Germany, and South Korea.

In Tashkent, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 35–40°C, shaded pedestrian corridors function as a key element of urban mobility.

The technology utilizes machine learning and satellite imagery analysis to map tree canopies via multispectral data, determining the proportion of a footpath sheltered by vegetation.

Under the service's algorithm, a road segment is designated as green if tree cover reaches at least 60 percent. The system also calculates continuous exposure to direct sunlight, shade distribution, and real-time air temperatures.

Satellite data processing allows the algorithm to map and monitor large urban areas continuously, translating complex spatial data into accessible navigation choices within the application.

Global interest in heat-adaptation technologies has expanded following extreme weather trends. Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service shows average temperatures in Western Europe reached 21.62°C in June–July 2026, roughly 2.8°C above normal, with temperatures in Spain, Portugal, and France frequently exceeding 40°C.

While digital mapping cannot replace urban forestry, the integration of shade tracking provides a digital layer over existing infrastructure that can inform future urban planning and climate adaptation strategies.