Modeling storm water control operated by green roofs at the urban catchment scale

The urban catchment of Colle Ometti, in the town of Genoa, Italy, where storm water runoff is monitored for both quantity and quality, was selected as a test site for the hydrologic modelling of greening scenarios. Although no green roof installations are now present in the area, this study modelled – using extensive green roof details – the hydrologic effects of three hypothetical roof greenin scenarios at the catchment scale (conversion of 10%, 20%, and 100% impervious to green roofs). The modelling of green roof performances was undertaken using the EPA SWMM and was calibrated and validated on a small size green roof system completed in September 2007 in the laboratory of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (DICAT – University of Genoa). Precipitation scenarios were developed based on eighteen years of high resolution (one minute) rain gauge data in Genoa (1990-2007).Hydrologic modelling demonstrated that widespread green roof implementation can significantly reduce peak runoff rates and the lag time (7min and 15 min) runoff volume (detention effect) while after introducing the drying process operated by evapo-traspiration during the inter-event period the runoff volume reduction at the event scale (retention effect) can also be appreciated.