Joanna Bąk, Jadwiga Królikowska
Cracow University of Technology, Poland
corresponding author’s e-mail:
Abstract
Extreme weather events such as: high temperatures, heat waves, torrential and heavy rains, strong winds or floods are increasingly frequent symptoms of climate change. As predicted by climatologists, they would keep occurring more and more often and their intensity would increase. Flooding and floods are the biggest threats to the agglomeration. They pose a great danger not only directly to residents' property, but also cause severe economic losses, e.g. during a temporary interruption of a production process.
Adaptation to climate change can be supported not only by new technologies, but also by some trends in spatial planning, i.e. activities related to installation of green infrastructure throughout the city. Water and green perfectly fit into an urbanized space.
The article investigates how green walls can participate in adaptation of the city of Krakow to climate changes. The term of the green wall was also discussed and the own its definition was proposed.
The aim of the research was to find locations of green walls in the city of Krakow and then visually assess their spatial structure and density. On the basis of this data, areas for potential growing of green infrastructures in a selected settlement unit were identified.
The research material comprised the map of Krakow and information obtained during a preliminary inventory of the Krakow’s green walls. The map of Krakow's green walls has been completed on the basis of cartographic data from OpenStreetMap.org. In addition, the materials form the state geodetic and cartographic resources were used. The map was developed using the QGIS program – version 2.4.0.
The authors created a map of green walls in Krakow along the main communication routes. The map is made up of spatial data in a digital form, as two vector layers linked with the city map. There were just a few plant species planted on the green walls. However, a large variety of constructions on which vegetation occurred was observed.
The map of green walls along the most important communication routes in Krakow allowed to identify potential places for new plantings and to assess a spatial structure of green infrastructure.
There is a large number of green walls in the city, but their density is not large, yet. There are many places that are potential locations for greening. Particular attention should be paid to shopping centers, as there are many ways to introduce this form of green infrastructure in their area. Only if at a high density, greenery will help to overcome effects of climate change in the city.
Keywords
rainwater, green infrastructure, green wall
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