Print Syllabus

Syllabus

LK0319 Green Roofs - basic concepts and application, 15.0 Credits

Gröna tak - grundläggande koncept och användning

Subjects

Landscape Architecture Landscape Architecture

Education cycle

Bachelor’s level

Advanced study in the main field

G1N

Grading scale

Language

Swedish

Prior knowledge

The equivalence of general entrance requirements for higher education studies

Objectives

The course has as general aims to facilitate for students to expand their knowledge of different types of green roofs. During the course students will treat questions connected to delivery of ecosystem services from green solutions, how different green roofs influence the urban environment and how these aspects can be brought in urban planning. The course will also bring up questions connected to safe installation of green roofs on buildings and how vegetation and soil can be designed to achieve high quality.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• give examples of different types of vegetation covered roofs and explain their respective advantages and disadvantages with regard to the urban environment

• give examples of how green roofs can be integrated in urban planning as well as describe which ecosystem services that can be connected to green roofs

• give a detailed description and discuss how green roofs influence the urban environment with regard to urban hydrology, urban energy balances, biodiversity, aesthetics, air quality and recreation values

• have a basic understanding of how an installation of a green roof can influence the building envelope including sealing membrane and building energy balance

• be able to explain how substrate and soil suited for different types of green roofs function, can be designed and specified at procurement. The students should also be able to give example different components for green roof substrates.

Content

The course covers green roofs from a broad perspective as it stretches over the multifunctionality of the systems in relation to the urban environment and the complex context in the border between design, technology and biology. In this, the course stretches from biology and soil science to how one can design and use roofscapes for human experience. The development of knowledge connected to green roofs has gone fast during the latest 15 the years and there are many international scientific environments that work with the questions. The course will have an international perspective on green roofs.

The course is based on literature studies, lectures, exercises and field trips as well as a final project work.

The course covers the following aspects connected to green roofs:

• green roofs influence on the urban environment in relation to urban hydrology, urban energy balances, biodiversity, aesthetics, air quality and recreation,

• planning tools for urban green infrastructure,

• building construction,

• definitions and concepts connected to different types of vegetation-covered roofs,

• presentation of different types of green roofs,

• basic soil science,

• basic plant ecology and plant physiology,

• design and implementation of green roofs.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Examination takes place through a large project work and a number of home assignments. A Pass grade for the entire course requires a passed project work, a passed project presentation as well as passed home assignments.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

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Responsible department

Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management