Experimental Evidence for Delayed Stormwater Runoff From Building Roofs Covered With Suspended Vine Canopies
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The Journal of Living Architecture is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, published by the Green Infrastructure Foundation and hosted by the Living Architecture Monitor Magazine. Learn more about the Journal, read all Journal articles, or find out how to submit to the Journal.
Volume 9 Number 1 Pages 1-19
Laura M. Schumann1, David R. Tilley (*)(1)
*1 Department of Environmental Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, USA
(*) corresponding author: dtilley@umd.edu
Abstract
Rainfall interception by the leaf canopies of natural forests are typically 25% of annual rainfall. Promoting canopy interception in the urban environment (e.g., roofs and parking lots) with vine canopies grown on suspended trellises could delay and reduce urban stormwater runoff and suppress peak flows. Our aim was to experimentally determine the delay in runoff from a vining canopy, elevated on a trellis above a sloped, asphalt shingle roof. A rainfall simulator generated a 9 mm/h (8.5 inch in 24 h) rain event for a 15-minute period (2.25 mm) for roofs covered with and without vine canopies. Eleven (11) canopies, each consisting of a single species and various amounts of leaf material [measured as leaf area index (LAI), percent cover, and canopy thickness] and no canopy (i.e., bare roof) were tested. The vine canopies intercepted 12 to 20% of rainfall with higher interception associated with thicker and denser amounts of leaf material (LAI, percent cover and canopy thickness (R2: 0.82, 0.64, 0.48, respectively). Vining canopies show potential as a best management practice (BMP) for mitigating urban stormwater problems. Further work is needed to evaluate how much vine canopies reduce total and peak storm runoff.
Read the full article at: https://doi.org/10.46534/jliv.2022.09.01.001
Key words: BMP, stormwater management, green infrastructure, green building, green roof, vine canopy, interception
This peer-reviewed article is provided free and open-access.
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