Modelling of vertical greenery system with selected tropical plants in urban context to appraise plant thermal performance

T.A.N.T. Perera; G.Y. Jayasinghe; R.U. Halwatura; H.T. Rupasinghe

Ecological Indicators (Sep 2021)

Modelling of vertical greenery system with selected tropical plants in urban context to appraise plant thermal performance

T.A.N.T. Perera,
G.Y. Jayasinghe,
R.U. Halwatura,
H.T. Rupasinghe

Affiliations

T.A.N.T. Perera: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka; Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
G.Y. Jayasinghe: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka; Melbourne School of Land and Environment, The University of Melbourne, 500Yarra Boulevard, Richmond 3121, Australia; Corresponding author at: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka.
R.U. Halwatura: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
H.T. Rupasinghe: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 128
p. 107816

Abstract

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Different growth parameters and thermal performances of selected plant species grown on vertical system modules in urban tropical climate have been investigated under the study. Further, outdoor thermal comfort simulation has been modeled by ENVImet 4.4.5 to investigate the applicability of selected plant species in three different tropical conditions (Colombo Sethsiripaya administrative complex, Matara urban council building and Kandy Urban council building). Sample modular vertical green living wall panels were fabricated by using timber frames (60 × 40 × 5 cm) packed with cocopeat medium with a depth of 3.8 cm. Nine plant species; such as Desmodium triflorum, Roheo spathacea, Centella asiatica, Axonopus fissifoliu, Axonopus compressus, Elusine indica, Dieffenbachiae spp, Tectaria spp, and Bigonia spp were selected for the study. Plant survival percentages, plant height and leaf area index (LAI) were recorded for 8 weeks. Thermal performances were evaluated by considering temperatures at (a) 20 cm distance in front of the green wall, (b) substrate surface of the green wall modules and (c) inside the green wall compared to (d) adjacent bare wall (Control). The highest LAI was recorded from Roheo spp (3.99) followed by Axonopus f. (3.20) and Elusine spp (2.21). Axonopus f. exhibited the highest coverage on the living wall due to high LAI (>1). The highest temperature reduction (5.06 °C) was displayed by Axonopus f. compared to the other species as it covers large extent of the wall. The simulation study of the green walls developed with Axonopus f. signified a possible maximum temperature reduction of 2.07 °C, 3.29 °C and 2.03 °C in Colombo Sethsiripaya administrative complex, Matara urban council building and Kandy urban council building, respectively. Hence, modelling vertical greening with Axonopus f. can effectively enhance the thermal performance in urban context due to their LAI values and the thermal performances.

Published in Ecological Indicators

ISSN: 1470-160X (Print); 1872-7034 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ecological-indicators

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