Vegetated Surfaces as an Alternative to Resilient Cities

Abstract

The processes of urbanization of the Brazilian currency are responsible for the reduction of green areas, the formation of islands of heat, among other problems. The insertion of plants in urban space through green walls and roofs is a possibility to create green spaces in dense urban areas with restricted sidewalks that do not have the capacity to receive urban afforestation. The objective of this article is to analyze the behavior of climatic variables for an existing urban scenario and for two simulated scenarios - one with green walls and the other with green roofs. We used as a case study a stretch of urban canyon in the center of Vitória-ES. The simulations were carried out in the ENVI-met software and the results showed that the vegetation insertion on the walls is more efficient than on the roofs, with respect to thermal comfort at the pedestrian level, in the studied canyon. The most promising scenario was that of vegetated walls, which decreased the air temperature by up to 2.5 °C, increased the relative humidity by up to 5.76%, and improved the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) index by 1 point on the scale of sensations. The simulations demonstrated the efficiency of green walls in improving the urban microclimate in a consolidated area that would not have the capacity to receive urban afforestation. Studies such as this one can contribute to the development of research applied to the Brazilian context, with adequacy of climatic and vegetation aspects, still underdeveloped. It can also collaborate with the demonstration of vegetated areas as an efficient strategy for the implantation of green corridors in consolidated urban areas and their dissemination with the public power. Finally, green walls are an adequate and possible alternative for the minimization of heat island in urban centers, and public policies and urban planning should stimulate their implementation.