Surfacepermeability
Excessive sealing of the city's surface causes rapid rainwater runoff, limits its retention, and is also one of the main causes of urban heating and the formation of urban heat islands. The lack of sustainable spatial planning in this regard also affects air quality and resilience to extreme weather events. Conscious residents are increasingly demanding the 'unsealing' of cities.
CITY PROBLEMS
CITY PROBLEMS
Concrete jungles
Overuse of concrete makes cities monotonous, devoid of color and life. The lack of greenery worsens well-being, increases stress, and deprives people of natural resting places. The harsh, hot space discourages people from spending time outdoors and weakens social bonds.
CITY PROBLEMS
Water pooling in parking lots
Excessive hardening of surfaces, like in parking lots, prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground, causing it to accumulate in puddles and flood the area. This leads to material losses and communication problems in the city. The lack of natural water absorption areas worsens the aesthetics of the space and reduces its functionality.
CITY PROBLEMS
Trees without proper basins
Concreting the areas under trees is dangerous because water runs off the compacted surface instead of soaking into the soil. Limited access to air and nutrients weakens their growth and resistance. As a result, the plants get sick, and instead of providing services, they become a threat to people and their property.
which corresponds to the annual consumption of 100,000 homes.
Surface permeability
What CoolCity does
What CoolCity does
Performs an inventory of areas
- sealed
- permeable
- poorly permeable
Calculates the sealed area / biologically active area (BAA) index in various units
Identifies areas with most sealed surfaces for intervention.
Allows for assessing the impact of unsealing the area and pricing the solution.
Monitors changes in the share of sealed areas / biologically active areas.
Performs an inventory of areas
- sealed
- permeable
- poorly permeable
Calculates the sealed area / biologically active area (BAA) index in various units
Identifies areas with most sealed surfaces for intervention.
Allows for assessing the impact of unsealing the area and pricing the solution.
Monitors changes in the share of sealed areas / biologically active areas.
Effects for the city
Urban space without large sealed areas
Control of the biologically active area of investments
More effective city de-sealing policy
Better conditions for tree development thanks to access to water and soil
Thanks to CoolCity, designers can quickly check for flooding, retention, or the impact on heat islands and immediately include blue-green solutions. Then they are not an addition, but an integral part of the project – often cheaper than gray infrastructure, allowing to reduce current costs in the future, especially those related to the use of the environment.
Monika Pec-Święcicka
Urban Landscape Architect and Deputy Director of the Urban Greenery Management Board
Global insight • Local impact
Check today what CoolCity can do for your city