Sensing Green Roofs to Provide Continuous Data for Stormwater Modeling

Prior research has shown that green roofs can reduce stormwater runoff by 40-60%, but questions remain as to the relative contribution of the green roof substrate and plants at the micro-scale, and the change in these relative contributions on a seasonal basis.  Very few commercial / industrial green roofs are adequately monitored to provide continuous data, as green building (LEED) standards do not require performance metrics as a requirement for certification.  We are developing low-cost sensor networks that utilize soil moisture and temperature sensors, in addition to aerial (light, relative humidity, air temperature, rainfall, wind speed and direction) sensors that can provide a continuous data stream for micro-scale monitoring.  We will discuss these network capabilities and how we intend to integrate this information into existing green roof stormwater mitigation models.