City green for the (hot) future

The summer of 2018 was one of the warmest since weather records began, along with the summer of 2003. Heat days and tropical nights increased significantly: Stuttgart had 41 hot days, the average for the years 1961 - 1990 was only 6 days above 30° C. The summer was also the warmest since the beginning of summer 2003. Stuttgart and many other municipalities are therefore planning more green and water areas in the city to cushion the rise in temperature. But wThe summer of 2018 was one of the warmest since weather records began, along with the summer of 2003. Heat days and tropical nights increased significantly: Stuttgart had 41 hot days, the average for the years 1961 - 1990 was only 6 days above 30° C. The summer was also the warmest since the beginning of summer 2003. Stuttgart and many other municipalities are therefore planning more green and water areas in the city to cushion the rise in temperature. But what happens if it becomes not only hotter, but also drier? Where do green spaces have the greatest effect in buffering the rise in temperature, and how can the demand for water for green spaces be met during summer heat waves?

These and other questions will be investigated by the University of Stuttgart over the next three yeahat happens if it becomes not only hotter, but also drier? Where do green spaces have the greatest effect in buffering the rise in temperature, and how can the demand for water for green spaces be met during summer heat waves?

These and other questions will be investigated by the University of Stuttgart over the next three years in the INTERESS-I research project (Integrated Strategies for Strengthening Urban Blue-Green Infrastructures). The Department of Sanitary Engineering and Water Recycling of the Institute of Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Waste Management (ISWA) of the Faculty and the Institute of Landscape Planning and Ecology (ILPÖ) are working on the basics, concepts and implementation proposals.

In Stuttgart and Frankfurt, the two institutes are conducting research in the "Leitinitiative Zukunftsstadt" project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research together with the city councils, the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, the Institute for Social-Ecological Research and Helix Plants from Kornwestheim under the direction of the Technical University of Munich. They want to identify alternative water resources, determine their suitability for irrigation, test storage methods and develop new forms of climate-effective urban greenery. With the funding measure "Leitinitiative Zukunftsstadt", the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is addressing central challenges for sustainable urban development. The focus is on climate change, sustainable and innovative mobility options, as well as the quality of life and the environment.

At the start of the project, both institutes brought the "Mobile Green Room" to the university campus Stadtmitte (between K I and K II, i.e. between Keplerstr. 11 and 17). It can still be seen there until 24 October 2018. The "ambassador" for green infrastructure in cities opens the view for new, also vertical green forms.