Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Urbanization has led to the proliferation of urban heat islands (UHIs), characterized by elevated temperatures in urban areas compared to their surrounding rural areas. The negative impacts of UHIs on human health, energy consumption, and the environment have heightened the need for sustainable solutions to mitigate these effects. Green roofs have emerged as a promising strategy to reduce UHI effects by promoting evapotranspiration, providing insulation, and enhancing urban biodiversity. This thesis presents a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of green roofs in reducing UHI effects through a combination of literature review, field measurements, and data analysis. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study, outlining the background, problem statement, objectives, limitations, scope, significance, structure of the thesis, and definition of key terms. Chapter 2 presents a detailed literature review covering ten key aspects related to green roofs, UHIs, and their interactions. Chapter 3 describes the research methodology, including the research design, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and quality assurance measures. In Chapter 4, the findings of the study are discussed in detail, focusing on the impact of green roofs on urban temperature reduction, energy savings, stormwater management, and biodiversity enhancement. The results reveal the significant potential of green roofs in mitigating UHI effects and promoting urban sustainability. Various factors influencing the effectiveness of green roofs, such as design, maintenance, and local climate conditions, are also investigated. Finally, Chapter 5 presents the conclusion and summary of the thesis, highlighting the key findings, implications for environmental management, and recommendations for future research. The study underscores the importance of green roofs as a sustainable solution for reducing UHI effects and enhancing urban resilience. Overall, this thesis contributes to the growing body of knowledge on green infrastructure and its role in addressing environmental challenges in urban areas. Keywords Urban heat island, Green roofs, Sustainable urban development, Evapotranspiration, Biodiversity, Environmental management.

Thesis Overview

The research project titled "Assessment of the effectiveness of green roofs in reducing urban heat island effects" aims to investigate the potential of green roofs as a sustainable solution to mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effects in urban environments. Urban heat islands refer to the phenomenon where cities experience significantly higher temperatures than their surrounding rural areas due to human activities and the built environment. This project seeks to explore how green roofs, which are vegetated roof systems, can help reduce the impact of UHI by promoting cooling effects, improving air quality, and enhancing urban biodiversity. The study will begin with a comprehensive literature review to examine existing research on green roofs and their impact on reducing UHI effects. This review will provide a foundation for understanding the current state of knowledge in this field and identify gaps that the research aims to address. The research methodology will involve the collection of data on temperature variations, air quality, and biodiversity in urban areas with green roofs compared to those without. This data will be analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of green roofs in reducing UHI effects and improving environmental quality. The findings of this study are expected to contribute valuable insights to the field of environmental management and urban planning. By assessing the effectiveness of green roofs in mitigating UHI effects, the research aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for incorporating green infrastructure in urban development projects. This research is significant as it aligns with global efforts to promote sustainable urbanization and address the challenges of climate change. Overall, this project on the assessment of green roofs in reducing urban heat island effects represents a crucial step towards understanding the potential of nature-based solutions in creating more resilient and sustainable cities. Through rigorous data collection, analysis, and interpretation, this study seeks to inform policy-makers, urban planners, and environmental practitioners on the benefits of integrating green roofs as a strategy to combat the adverse impacts of urban heat islands.