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This green smart-roof in Rotterdam that helps prevent flooding

4 min read

Sustainable Planet

In partnership with Sustainable Urban Delta Foundation (SUD)

The Sustainable Urban Delta Foundation (SUD) inspires megacities to make choices that open the door to healthy and sustainable urban growth. A crucial element of our approach is the production of local, healthy and fresh food.
Source: Dakakker.nl

The Netherlands’ largest rooftop farm includes a sensor-controlled roof—with 24/7 connection to the weather forecast and a much larger water storage capacity than regular green roofs—providing for the farm and retaining excess floodwater during peak storms.

THE SMARTEST ROOF in THE NETHERLANDS can help prevent flooding

The SlimDak (or Smart-roof) on the roof-pavilion of the Schieblock in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, is an intelligent water storage green-roof with a smart-flow control that is driven by the weather forecast. When predicting extreme rainfall, the smart-flow control responds by making extra water storage capacity available up to 24 hours in advance.

When extreme rain is predicted, the smartflower control reacts by making extra water storage capacity available 24 hours in advance.

The Slimdak on top of the central pavilion is a clever water storing rooftop with smartflowcontrol that is controlled by the weather forecast. When extreme rain is predicted, the smartflower control reacts by making extra water storage capacity available 24 hours in advance. Source: Sanne van Hemert for BrightVibes

There is a phone card in the roof that constantly calls with the weather forecast

The RIVM (Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) has calculated that it can be 6-8°C (39-46.5°F) warmer in Rotterdam city centre compared with the countryside outside the city. 

Those are huge differences. In addition, you need climate adaptation to solve the water problem in the city. In Rotterdam [the Netherlands] there is a real problem with water.

Up on the Dakakker, they have built a smart roof that is completely automatic, with a 24-hour all day connection with the weather forecast. There is a phone card in the roof that constantly calls with the weather forecast.

When the weather forecast says: “it will stay dry.” then he lets the water sit, if the weather forecast says: “a very big storm is coming.” and the roof is full of water, then it will slowly release the water to the city sewer, 12 hours in advance. Not a sudden splash, but very slowly to the sewer. Then the roof is already empty or half empty when that rain comes, and there is room for new rainwater.

Source: Sanne van Hemert for BrightVibes

This idea scales up

This is only a very small rooftop around 120 square metres. Can you imagine that there are 4,000 square metres or an entire neighbourhood with this system? That has an effect, because then you can store water well. You can use the water for your greywater systems in your buildings. The sewage system does not need to be as large. It is all less because you collect the water on the roof.

On the smart roof they can double that amount 120 square metres. That is the SlimDak system, which is fully automatically controlled.

On the rest of the Dakakker they can collect about 60 litres per square metre of rainwater. On the smart roof they can double that amount 120 square metres. That is the SlimDak system, which is fully automatically controlled. Source: Sanne van Hemert for BrightVibes

In addition to a testsite for this new form of waterstorage the Smartroof will also provide the rooftopfarm of the water needed.
A smartroof is a sensor and weather controlled roof with a much larger waterstorage capacity than an ordinary greenroof. In addition to a testsite for this new form of waterstorage the Smartroof will also provide the rooftopfarm of the water needed. Source: luchtsingel.org
The Slimdak. This polder* rooftop is installed on top of the pavillion that is built on the rooftop of the Schieblock building. It functions as a testsite for a water storage rooftop. *an enclosed, artificial hydrological entity, most usually reclaimed land.
Slimdak (Smart Rooftop) Since 2018, the DakAkker has a test site for a clever water storage system: The Slimdak. This polder* rooftop is installed on top of the pavillion that is built on the rooftop of the Schieblock building. It functions as a testsite for a water storage rooftop. *an enclosed, artificial hydrological entity, most usually reclaimed land. Source: Rotterdamsedakendagen.nl
The Slimdak on top of the pavillion is a clever water storing rooftop with smart-flow control that is controlled by the weather forecast. When extreme rain is predicted, the smartflower control reacts by making extra water storage capacity available 24 hours in advance.
Provided with sensors for a downpour-proof Rotterdam. The Slimdak on top of the pavillion is a clever water storing rooftop with smart-flow control that is controlled by the weather forecast. When extreme rain is predicted, the smartflower control reacts by making extra water storage capacity available 24 hours in advance. Source: Dakakker.nl
The smart-flow control knows how much water there is in the roof!With the weather forecast of extreme rainfall, the smart-flow control automatically makes room for extra waterstorage 24 hours in advance. The smart-flow control ensures slow drainage of rainwater.
The smart-flow control is in constant connection with the weatherforecast. The smart-flow control knows how much water there is in the roof!With the weather forecast of extreme rainfall, the smart-flow control automatically makes room for extra waterstorage 24 hours in advance. The smart-flow control ensures slow drainage of rainwater. Source: Dakakker.nl
On the roof, vegetables, edible flowers and fruits are grown and there are beehives. The DakAkker is the biggest rooftop farm in The Netherlands, one of the biggest and also the first in Europe.
The DakAkker is a rooftop farm on top of the Schieblock building in Rotterdam. On the roof, vegetables, edible flowers and fruits are grown and there are beehives. The DakAkker is the biggest rooftop farm in The Netherlands, one of the biggest and also the first in Europe. Source: luchtsingel.org
Soil/compost, organic substrate medium, filter membrane, drainage system.
Smart-roof sandwich. Soil/compost, organic substrate medium, filter membrane, drainage system. Source: Dakakker.nl
Besides the farm, there is also a publicy accessible bistro on the rooftop and, in the summer, it is possible for visitors to pick edible flowers (reservation needed). Furthermore, there is an extensive education programme for children and adults can book tours. The DakAkker is part of the project The Luchtsingel, by ZUS architects, a design for the first City Initiave in Rotterdam.
The DakAkker is maintained by rooftop famer Wouter Bauman and an enhusiastic group of volunteers. Besides the farm, there is also a publicy accessible bistro on the rooftop and, in the summer, it is possible for visitors to pick edible flowers (reservation needed). Furthermore, there is an extensive education programme for children and adults can book tours. The DakAkker is part of the project The Luchtsingel, by ZUS architects, a design for the first City Initiave in Rotterdam. Source: Sanne van Hemert for BrightVibes
This Dutch smart roof helps fight flooding In Rotterdam (the Netherlands) they have a real problem with water. Here on the Dakakkers they've built a smart roof that is completely automated and has a 24/7 connection with the weather forecast. Source: Facebook/SustainableUrbanDelta
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SUSTAINABLE URBAN DELTA: INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING CITIES TO BECOME FOOD PRODUCING COMMUNITIES

The Sustainable Urban Delta Foundation was established to inspire megacities to make choices that open the door to healthy and sustainable urban growth. A crucial element of our approach is the production of local, healthy and fresh food. This can either be done inside cities or on undeveloped agricultural land surrounding cities, known as green belts. We aim to be the catalyst and the connector in order to create a better future. Learn more.