Service Rationale
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are actions inspired by nature which use the features and complex system processes of nature, such as its ability to store carbon and regulate water flows, in order to help societies address a variety of environmental, social and economic challenges in sustainable ways. Nature-based solutions examples are green roofs, green walls, urban farms, etc.
In urban areas, green roofs provide multiple benefits as reducing the risk of flooding by collecting rainwater, reduce the ambient temperature, improve energy efficiency in buildings and offer many social benefits associated with urban agriculture, well-being, noise reduction, healing, environmental and air quality and representing a valid alternative to increase the green areas, especially where available land for greening is limited.
Knowing the capacity of a city to host these types of nature-based solutions allows defining which areas have the highest potential to accommodate these solutions and provides decision-makers with different scenarios on green roof potential deployment. In addition, buildings suitability for roof rehabilitation buildings is provided to support actions prioritization.
Estimation of the maximum green roof potential
The CURE Nature-Based Solutions allows to identify already existing green roofs as well as identifying areas with high roof retrofitting potential by quantifying potential green roof installation according to specific installation conditions. To accurately quantify the urban assets capabilities, it is crucial to identify firstly which buildings have flat or quasi-flat roofs and which ones present an already vegetated surface, in order to identify the maximum green roof potential.
Nature-Based Solutions service provides map-based results - the maximum green roof potential estimation inventory for each building in a neighbourhood, a city or a region. This is estimated according to physical parameters such as slope computation for each building. based on several parameters aiming at maximizing the impact of the solutions in a determinate area, such as NDVI, Land surface temperature and imperviousness.
See and explore such an estimation of maximum green roof potential on the map left. Use slider to inspect variation, value distribution and local differences in the city.
Prioritization of areas with highest potential/benefit
Although almost all buildings can host a green roof, some specific characteristics may require a complex and expensive design and installation and, as part of the urban initial assessment for greening potential and prioritization, the year of construction is used as an estimation to dismiss buildings which may require extensive rehabilitation.
The identification of buildings with highest greening potential is done according to physical parameters such as slope computation for each building and the identification of buildings with highest greening potential, based on several parameters aiming at maximizing the impact of the solutions in a determinate area, such as NDVI, Land surface temperature (LST) and degree of imperviousness.
The combination of the most beneficious area and the most suitable buildings is used for the prioritization, but it be can be further weighted by the user depending on the city characteristics. See and explore an estimation of maximum green roof potential on the map left and prioritization of areas with highest potential/benefit on the right. Use slider to inspect variation, value distribution and local differences in the city.
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