TY - BOOK

T1 - Vertical nature-based solutions for urban stormwater management and the role of vegetation

AU - Lausen, Emilia Danuta

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Development of stormwater nature-based solutions (NBS) is a growing field of study and practice. It aims to re-establish the pre-urban water balance by supplementing pipe-based stormwater discharge with elements for infiltration to replenish ground water and allow for evaporation and transpiration. Despite vegetation being a critical component to operationalizing the NBS concept, it is the one least researched. Especially for stormwater management the plants’ water requirements are vital not only for proper system functioning, but also to support environmental benefits provided by vegetation, including biodiversity. However, to be able to provide those benefits, stormwater-NBS need to be accepted by inhabitants. Biodiverse vegetation can have aesthetical qualities that differ from traditional urban green, which can lead to tensions in the wide-spread implementation of NBS. Through three studies the PhD explored the possibilities of evapotranspiration-based stormwater management in vertical greenery systems (VGS), and the role of vegetation in their performance and aesthetics in order to help operationalize the NBS concept in urban areas. The first study demonstrated the construction and implementation of the multifunctional “Green Climate Screen” and proved that a freestanding VGS based on evapotranspiration can be a viable measure for stormwater management. The second study examined the performance of eight native species during reoccurring drought periods and plant traits necessary for enhancing stormwater function and evapotranspiration on non-irrigated stormwater VGS. The third study investigated Copenhageners’ perception of the aesthetics of three selected urban NBS with possible relation to stormwater management: green roof, curb extension and VGS. The focus of the study was both on the vegetation’s physical attributes influencing the perception and pre-defined cultural explanatory factors. The result indicated that cultural factors could help garner support among people whose initial impression of NBS vegetation was negative and pointed to possible physical alterations that would increase acceptance of biodiverse vegetation.

AB - Development of stormwater nature-based solutions (NBS) is a growing field of study and practice. It aims to re-establish the pre-urban water balance by supplementing pipe-based stormwater discharge with elements for infiltration to replenish ground water and allow for evaporation and transpiration. Despite vegetation being a critical component to operationalizing the NBS concept, it is the one least researched. Especially for stormwater management the plants’ water requirements are vital not only for proper system functioning, but also to support environmental benefits provided by vegetation, including biodiversity. However, to be able to provide those benefits, stormwater-NBS need to be accepted by inhabitants. Biodiverse vegetation can have aesthetical qualities that differ from traditional urban green, which can lead to tensions in the wide-spread implementation of NBS. Through three studies the PhD explored the possibilities of evapotranspiration-based stormwater management in vertical greenery systems (VGS), and the role of vegetation in their performance and aesthetics in order to help operationalize the NBS concept in urban areas. The first study demonstrated the construction and implementation of the multifunctional “Green Climate Screen” and proved that a freestanding VGS based on evapotranspiration can be a viable measure for stormwater management. The second study examined the performance of eight native species during reoccurring drought periods and plant traits necessary for enhancing stormwater function and evapotranspiration on non-irrigated stormwater VGS. The third study investigated Copenhageners’ perception of the aesthetics of three selected urban NBS with possible relation to stormwater management: green roof, curb extension and VGS. The focus of the study was both on the vegetation’s physical attributes influencing the perception and pre-defined cultural explanatory factors. The result indicated that cultural factors could help garner support among people whose initial impression of NBS vegetation was negative and pointed to possible physical alterations that would increase acceptance of biodiverse vegetation.

M3 - Ph.D. thesis

BT - Vertical nature-based solutions for urban stormwater management and the role of vegetation

PB - Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

ER -