Using roof garden to alleviate urbanization problems -- A case study of Chengdu city

Abstract

The accelerated process of urbanization has led to significant urbanization issues such as noise pollution, air pollution, and the urban heat island effect. Roof gardens, as an effective way to create green spaces within cities, have considerable potential to address these urbanization problems. Taking Chengdu City as an example, this paper presents a simple design for a roof garden, focusing on the infrastructure, layout, plant species, and materials of the roof garden. The roof garden was improved after establishing its potential to mitigate urban noise by initial qualitative analysis. Firstly, specific vegetation selections are made which include deciduous trees such as Cephalotaxus Harrington and shrubs like Bauhinia blakeana. which can adapt to Chengdu's climate while effectively capturing dust particles. Secondly, a water storage layer was installed, and the angle of the pavilion roof was adjusted which allows the roof garden to regulate rainwater runoff effectively and minimize potential problems as possible. Although the current roof garden design is still in the theoretical stage and requires further field research and design, it holds tremendous potential in dealing with urban issues due to its unique advantages and policy support.