scholarly journals Fine-scale substrate heterogeneity does not affect arthropod communities on green roofs

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bracha Y. Schindler ◽  
Amiel Vasl ◽  
Leon Blaustein ◽  
David Gurevich ◽  
Gyongyver J. Kadas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Arthropod Community ◽  
Arthropod Communities ◽  
Arthropod Diversity ◽  
Substrate Properties ◽  
Substrate Heterogeneity

Green roofs, which are roofs with growing substrate and vegetation, can provide habitat for arthropods in cities. Maintaining a diversity of arthropods in an urban environment can enhance the functions they fill, such as pest control and soil development. Theory suggests that the creation of a heterogeneous environment on green roofs would enhance arthropod diversity. Several studies have examined how arthropod diversity can be enhanced on green roofs, and particularly whether substrate properties affect the arthropod community, but a gap remains in identifying the effect of substrate heterogeneity within a green roof on the arthropod community. In this paper, it is hypothesized that creating heterogeneity in the substrate would directly affect the diversity and abundance of some arthropod taxa, and indirectly increase arthropod diversity through increased plant diversity. These hypotheses were tested using green roof plots in four treatments of substrate heterogeneity: (1) homogeneous dispersion; (2) mineral heterogeneity—with increased tuff concentration in subplots; (3) organic heterogeneity—with decreased compost concentrations in subplots; (4) both mineral and organic heterogeneity. Each of the four treatments was replicated twice on each of three roofs (six replicates per treatment) in a Mediterranean region. There was no effect of substrate heterogeneity on arthropod diversity, abundance, or community composition, but there were differences in arthropod communities among roofs. This suggests that the location of a green roof, which can differ in local climatic conditions, can have a strong effect on the composition of the arthropod community. Thus, arthropod diversity may be promoted by building green roofs in a variety of locations throughout a city, even if the roof construction is similar on all roofs.

scholarly journals Analysis of roof greening technology impact on rain and meltwater retention

2020 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 11023
Author(s):  
Elena Sysoeva ◽  
Margarita Gelmanova
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Substrate Thickness ◽  
Runoff Reduction ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Analytical Review

Over the past 20 years, a large number of studies have been published on reducing storm runoff by various types of green roofs. This article analyzes the results of experimental studies presented in 39 publications on green roof runoff reduction in a climate similar to the climate of Russia: in Canada, the USA, Finland, Norway, France. An analytical review found that the ability of green roofs to retain rainfall varies from 20 to 99.5% depending on climatic conditions (duration and intensity of rains, duration of dry periods, solar radiation, temperature and humidity, wind conditions), the properties of green roof layers (moisture capacity of the substrate and a drainage layer, the substrate thickness), the type of vegetation, the geometry of a green roof (slope and orientation). Green roofs can be a useful tool for reducing urban storm water runoff. However, in order to ensure high efficiency, it is necessary to use green roof technology with other measures to reduce runoff.

scholarly journals Green Roof Design Techniques to Improve Water Use under Mediterranean Conditions

Urban Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Paço ◽  
Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho ◽  
Pedro Arsénio ◽  
Diana Martins
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Roof Design ◽  
Mediterranean Conditions

Green roof typology can vary depending on buildings structure, climate conditions, substrate, and plants used. In regions with hot and dry summers, such as the Mediterranean region, irrigation plays an essential role, as the highest temperatures occur during the driest period of the year. Irrigation might reduce the heat island effect and improve the cooling of buildings during this period, however, the added cost of maintenance operations and additional energy consumption could outrun the benefits provided by the project. Moreover, in situations where water is scarce or primarily channelled to other uses (e.g., domestic, agriculture or industry) during drought occurrence, it is advisable to implement green roof projects with the lowest use of water possible. The objective of the present work is to investigate solutions to optimize water use in green roofs under Mediterranean conditions, such as those of southern Europe. Two case studies are presented for Portugal, and potential techniques to reduce irrigation requirements in green roofs were tested. These addressed the use of native plant species, including the extreme type of a non-irrigated green roof (Biocrust roof) and techniques for plant installation. Plant drought tolerance was found to be an advantage in green roofs under these climatic conditions and, for the species studied, aesthetic value could be maintained when irrigation decreased.

scholarly journals A research into the feasibility of green roof design in Russia: a case study of the Ryazan region

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-54
Author(s):  
Elena V. Sysoeva ◽  
◽  
Ilʼya V. Morozov
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The State ◽  
Russian State Standard ◽  
Russian State ◽  
Man And Nature ◽  
State Of Affairs

Introduction. The era of high technologies and economy disrupts interaction between man and nature, worsening the state of the environment and living conditions on Earth. In Russia, the construction industry follows a classical development model and applies stereotypical patterns of urban design. Finding problem solving methods means identifcation of problem triggers that help to clearly understand and develop rational problem tackling mechanisms. Green roofs suggest an advanced approach to architecture and urbanization whereby green spaces take the place of new buildings. Supplementary dynamic space is not reduced to its decorative and environmental functions. Materials and methods. We applied such research methods as analysis, the system approach, synthesis, deduction, and comparative analysis. The initial review of the state of affairs in the Ryazan region was performed with regard for the theoretical nature of this study; correlation and regression analysis were employed to assess territories and spaces. Results. The history of green roof systems is analyzed in the article. Systematization of the effective regulatory and technical framework enabled the co-authors to assess the widespread applicability of the green roof technology in Russia. Special attention is paid to the issues that are not covered by effective domestic regulations. The research work has shown that the frst edition of GOST (All-Russian State Standard) 58875 is an attempt to consolidate previously issued manuals and recommendations. There is no information available about the seasonal efciency of green roof solutions in different Russian regions. A number of issues remain unresolved. The “green roof” policy has not been developed. Conclusions. Russia is not ready for large-scale construction of green roofs. Further research into green construction should be carried out with regard for unstable climatic conditions in different regions of the country to confrm the feasibility of green roofing at the legislative level.

scholarly journals A New Method to Determine How Compaction Affects Water and Heat Transport in Green Roof Substrates

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
pp. 4697
Author(s):  
Victoria Sandoval ◽  
Francisco Suárez
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Soil Fraction ◽  
Substrate Properties ◽  
The Impact

Although compaction affects water and heat transport processes in porous media, few studies have dealt with this problem. This is particularly true for substrates, which are artificial porous media used for engineering and technological solutions, such as in vegetated or green roofs. We propose a methodology to study the effect of substrate compaction on the characterization of physical, hydrodynamic and thermal properties of five green roof substrates. The methodology consists in a parametric analysis that uses the properties of a substrate with known bulk density, and then modifies the substrate properties to consider how compaction affects water and heat fluxes. Coupled heat and water transport numerical simulations were performed to assess the impact of the changes in the previous properties on the hydraulic and thermal performance of a hypothetical roof system. Our results showed that compaction reduced the amplitude of the fluctuations in the volumetric water content daily cycles, increasing the average water content and reducing the breakthrough time of the green roof substrates. Compaction changes the thermal behavior of the green roof substrates in different ways for each substrate due to the dependence of the air, water and soil fraction of each substrate.

scholarly journals Сalculation of maintenance of surface drainage roofing of a German manufacturer

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-56
Author(s):  
Tetiana M. Tkachenko ◽  
Ivan O. Prokopenko
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Rain Water ◽  
Green Technologies ◽  
Sewer System ◽  
Reservoir Volume ◽  
Roof Structure

With the help of some green technologies, such as green roofs, quantitative and qualitative indicators of rainwater can be successfully adjusted. The big advantage of green roofs is the accumulation of moisture, which allows to delay the runoff of storm water, unloading the sewer system and preventing floods. However, an arbitrary increase in accumulated water in a standard green roof structure is not possible, because more amount of moisture can adversely affect vegetation. However, this option is available in the rainwater system on the green roof as an addition to other landscaping systems. The rainwater collection system on the green roof allows to accumulate on average 80 l/m² of rainfall and then release water into the sewer system for a certain period of time (from 24 hours to several days). The purpose of the study – to study the effect of surface runoff on the environment and reduce its negative impact with the help of green roofs. The calculation of the retained surface runoff by the roof of the German manufacturer was carried out according to the original author's method (Tkachenko, T., 2019). The reservoir volume was calculated using the author's advanced Wilo methodology adapted to the climatic conditions of Ukraine. The calculation of the retained surface runoff is done by the roof of the German manufacturer ZinCo. The "green" roof is located in Kiev. The area of the roof is 150 m2. ZinСo roof has been found to be able to hold 7950 liters of rainwater and thereby to reduce surface runoff by unloading storm wells. Roof efficiency for the reduction of surface runoff reaches 21.2%, which is a very good indicator. Purified rain water from green roofs can be collected in tanks and used for technical purposes. For collecting rain water from an intensive flat roof with an area of 150 m2, a 4 m3 tank is needed for an office staff of 8 people.

scholarly journals Role of drainage layer on green roofs in limiting the runoff of rainwater from urbanized areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Baryła
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Column Studies ◽  
Initial State ◽  
Drainage Layer ◽  
Urbanized Areas ◽  
Substrate Moisture

Abstract Green roofs play a significant role in sustainable drainage systems. They form absorbent surfaces for rainwater, which they retain with the aid of profile and plants. Such roofs therefore take an active part in improving the climatic conditions of a city and, more broadly, the water balance of urbanized areas. One of the factors influencing the hydrological efficiency of green roofs is the drainage layer. In the article, column studies were carried out under field conditions involving the comparison of the retention abilities of two aggregates serving as the drainage layer of green roofs, i.e. Leca® and quartzite grit. The average retention of the substrate was 48%; for a 5 cm drainage layer of Leca® retention was 57%, for a 10 cm layer of Leca average retention was 61%. For a 5 cm layer of quartzite grit average retention was 50%, for 10 cm layer of quartzite grit 53%. The highest retention was obtained for the column with the substrate and 10-centimeter layer of Leca®. At the same time, it was shown that Leca® is a better retention material than quartzite grit. The initial state of substrate moisture content from a green roof appears to be a significant factor in reducing rainfall runoff from a green roof; the obtained values of initial moisture content made for a higher correlation than the antecedent dry weather period.

THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF AN EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOF UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL ARGENTINA

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-42
Author(s):  
Lelia Imhof ◽  
Edgardo Suárez ◽  
Natalia Cáceres ◽  
Federico Robbiati ◽  
Cecilia Cáceres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Extensive Green Roofs

ABSTRACT Extensive green roofs improve the provision of ecosystem services in urban environments, particularly in semiarid regions. The aim of this paper is to compare their thermal performance during six months between two rooms, one with a green roof and the other with a conventional roof, in Córdoba (Argentina). The room with a green (planting) roof showed a lower inside surface temperature since the beginning of the study than the control room (between 5–6°C of difference). During the selected period, the indicators such as temperature amplitude (the difference between the maximum and the average temperature) and the anti-interference characteristics of the layers to the outdoor air temperature are produced a better performance for the green roof compared to the conventional roof. The pattern of a better performance was consistent across the study for the green roof, characterized by a higher cooling and warming of the roof surface during the day and night, respectively. The green roof was more effective at blocking an upward heat flux during the day and suppressing heat loss during the night. Evaporation, conductive flux and climatic conditions seem to dominate the thermal performance of green roofs in areas with semiarid climate conditions.

scholarly journals The shrub Ephedra californica facilitates arthropod communities along a regional desert climatic gradient

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Braun ◽  
Michael Westphal ◽  
Christopher J. Lortie
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Arthropod Community ◽  
Arthropod Communities ◽  
Arthropod Diversity ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Arthropod Abundance

AbstractArthropods underpin arid community dynamics and provide many key ecosystem services. In arid ecosystems, the key habitat components that influence arthropod community structure are relatively understudied. Ephedra californica is a common and widespread shrub with established positive effects on plant and vertebrate animal communities within the drylands of Southern California. The capacity for these positive effects to further support arthropod communities has not been examined. We tested the hypothesis that the physical structure and cover vegetation enhances key measures of arthropod community assembly at nine Californian desert sites that comprise an extensive regional aridity gradient. We contrasted the effects of shrub canopies with ground-covering vegetation on structuring ground-active arthropod communities by surveying ground-active arthropods with pitfall traps and collecting vegetation on the soil surface in the form of residual dry matter (RDM). We collected a total of 5868 individual arthropod specimens for a total of 184 morphospecies. Arthropod abundance and morphospecies richness and RDM biomass and cover were significantly greater beneath the canopy of E. californica throughout the region. Total biomass of RDM did not significantly influence arthropod communities, but cover of RDM on the soil surface negatively influenced arthropod abundance. Neither climatic aridity nor downscaled evaporative stress estimates were significant mediators of the arthropodvegetation association patterns. Vegetation thus likely has direct and indirect physical effects on arthropod communities. These canopy versus soil surface vegetation differences will refine sampling of fine-scale patterns of arthropod diversity in drylands. Regional land managers can support arthropod diversity by maintaining populations of foundation shrub species such as E. californica.

scholarly journals A Green Roof Case Study in the Urban Context of Milan: Integrating the Residential and Cultivation Functions for Sustainable Development

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Giulia Procaccini ◽  
Carol Monticelli
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Social Environmental

Green roofs are increasing in popularity because of both their pleasant appearance and their positive effects for the urban ecosystems and the building indoor climatic conditions. Though this technology has already been applied all over the world, it is still commonly considered of difficult application and management. Easy and fast approaches for green roofs must therefore be examined and encouraged in order to increase their number to counterbalance urban overheating. This thesis case study aimed to represent a prototype of a green roof integrated with a residential function in order to achieve an easy management of the cultivation area. The project was designed in terms of sustainability and was analyzed for its social, environmental and economic impacts, pointing out the numerous benefits that can be derived by the combination and juxtaposition of humans and native plants. The proposed solution is favorable in terms of a sustainable development: it aspires to be reproduced and extensively applied to other facilities of a city as a solution for the overheating and overpopulation of contemporary cities.

scholarly journals Seismic Performance of a Green Roof Structure

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4278
Author(s):  
Svetlana Tam ◽  
Jenna Wong
Keyword(s):  
Green Roof ◽  
Time History ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Moment Frame ◽  
Steel Moment Frame ◽  
Roof Structure ◽  
Nonlinear Time History Analyses ◽  
Vegetated Roofs ◽  
Nonlinear Time History ◽  
The Impact

Sustainability addresses the need to reduce the structure’s impact on the environment but does not reduce the environment’s impact on the structure. To explore this relationship, this study focuses on quantifying the impact of green roofs or vegetated roofs on seismic responses such as story displacements, interstory drifts, and floor level accelerations. Using an archetype three-story steel moment frame, nonlinear time history analyses are conducted in OpenSees for a shallow and deep green roof using a suite of ground motions from various distances from the fault to identify key trends and sensitivities in response.

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