Water Sensitive Urban Design Construction Systems Performance Due to Water Retention

Abstract

Objectives: The main goal of this research is to analyze and quantify reduction of surface temperatures (Ts) in systems which retain and especially harvest water with the focus on blue roofs and to check if just infiltrating water is enough to reduce surface temperatures. Theoretical Framework: ODS13, Climate action; ODS11 Sustainable Cities and communities; Water Sensitive Urban Design construction systems thermal behavior and Cooling water effect implemented by Governments and Municipalities. Method: it’s experimental, based on the quantification of different WSUD construction systems which infiltrate, retain and harvest water during a first year and focused on a blue roof prototype during a second year. Tools used are a thermal camera, a hygrometer and an anemometer. Results and Discussion: Surface temperatures gradients were from 5.3ºC at the infiltration basin, to 6ºC in the blue roof prototype to 14.6ºC in the built blue roof. Construction systems which could retain and harvest water had a Ts underneath the environmental one. They also retain less heat during the night contributing less to UHI than those which can’t retain water. Research implications: this research provides the information about water powerful effect in construction systems which infiltrate and harvest water. They contribute to the decrease of UHI. Originality/value: results demonstrate water cooling effect in infiltrating surfaces which can retain it. Results offer one more construction systems choice criteria in urban design.