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Green roofs and stormwater planters in Dublin: water retention performances, invertebrate biodiversity benefits, experimental optimizations and wider scale adoption modelling. IRC PhD.

Researcher: Elena Spinelli PhD project, UCD

Supervisor: Olaf Schmidt, UCD.

Description: The project has monitored the water retention performances of two extensive green roofs and two control roofs for 6 months. An invertebrate survey was carried out during a year on 3 extensive green roofs, 3 intensive green roofs and a control site to determine what biodiversity they can support. Water retention of 60 experimental stormwater planters was tested, varying plant types and drainage design to optimize current city council guidelines. Finally, the potential benefits of a neighborhood adoption of Green Infrastructures is being evaluated through modelling.

Funding: Irish Research Council, Dublin City Council

Timeline: March 2019 – September 2023

Contact: olaf.schmidt@ucd.ie or elena.spinelli@ucdconnect.ie.

Two of the roofs monitored: Probation Service on the left and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Operations Centre on the right. Credit: James Purcell.
Two of the roofs monitored: Probation Service on the left and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Operations Centre on the right. Credit: James Purcell.