University of Palermo

 

Experimental plant type

Green roof

Influent

Rainwater

 

The University of Palermo has constructed an extensive green roof at the SAAF department (Figure 1). The green roofs, one of the natural measures for water retention among sustainable urban drainge systems, have the goal to retain precipitation and then later release it through controlled events in order to reduce the pressure on the urban network. The pilot system (6.5 x 3 m2), was built using the Harpo verdepensile commercial substrate, and will be used in order to study hydrological behaviour of a green roof in the Mediterranean climate conditions.

The experimental system consist of:

  • Green roof pilot system built with the use of Harpo verdepensile substrate (Figure 2)
  • Meteorological station that can measure different parameters (precipitation, wind speed and direction, air temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, leaf wetness and soil humidity (Figure 3)
  • System measuring drainage volumes equipped with a rain gauge for small and a pressure transducer for larger flow rates (Figure 4).
  • Figure 1 – a) Location of the green roof, b) surface waterproofing, c) drainage and accumulation layer, d) filter cloth e) substrate (mediterranean soil))

    Figure 1 – a) Location of the green roof, b) surface waterproofing, c) drainage and accumulation layer, d) filter cloth e) substrate (mediterranean soil))

  • Figure 2 – Stratification system Harpo verdepensile

    Figure 2 – Stratification system Harpo verdepensile

  • Figura 3 – Meteorological station

    Figura 3 – Meteorological station

  • Figure 4 - System measuring drainage volume during calibration phase

    Figure 4 - System measuring drainage volume during calibration phase