A Survey Study on the Perception of the Vertical Garden Among the Public of Chennai

Abstract

Vertical gardens (VG) has proved to have numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, implementing VG is not common in a highly developed city like Chennai due to various reasons. This study aims to examine public perspectives on VG and the challenges preventing their broad adoption in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This research uses a sociotechnical strategy to encourage the adoption of VG. Design/methodology/approach: A survey approach was used for the investigation. An online questionnaire was given access to the public of Greater Chennai Corporation to come out with a quantitative understanding of the perception of VG. There were four 4 parts with 11 close- ended multiple choice questions. Part 1 included socio-demographic factors, while part 2 collected information on awareness of VG and the desire to adopt it in Chennai. Part 3 examined the understanding of the environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits of the VG. Part 4 focused on the barriers to the usage of VG in Chennai. Findings: the survey report analysis makes it clear that the following are the barriers to its widespread adoption in Chennai, the VG is still at a conceptual stage in the mind of the public due to a lack of clear understanding of its maintenance, irrigation, and the thought that vertical greening would cause structural damages. The purpose of vertical greening is prioritized for its aesthetic benefits rather than its environmental and social benefits. The maintenance and irrigation issues are also among the reasons discussed in this paper.