Green+Roof

Expected vs. actual data from the tipping bucket test:

[|Green Roof Water Test.txt]- This is the raw data from the tipping bucket tests we did a couple weeks ago, just so we all have access to it. The number of tips will be converted to L/min so we can compare to the estimates.

GREEN ROOF TIMELINE (POSTER SECTION)

January - Developed preliminary list of goals for the Spring Semester of 2012 - Set up our work space on Wiki

February - Got up to speed on the project and discussed treatment plans - Researched scholarly articles concerning Biochar effectiveness in water retention and release - Conducted primary calibration tests of the prototype tipping bucket with a graduated cylinder - Calculated expected water discharge (in^3 / 5 min) vs. rainfall rates (in / hr) for 2000 sq. ft watershed - Obtained Aiken Rooftop Diagram containing watershed area measurements - Gained roof access and conducted a preliminary survey of the roof - Determined the accuracy of the Roof Diagram by measuring and comparing "Watershed 8"

March - Prepped pouring buckets with labeled volumes, established watershed borders on the roof with string and recalculated water discharge to (L / min) vs. (in / hr)

April - Installed a tipping counter and water sampler into the tipping bucket - Secondary calibration test of the prototype tipping bucket using the expected discharge calculations - Discussed the redesigning of the tipping bucket to redirect force and decrease splashing - Discussed final poster expectations* - Poster work divided* - Presentations!*

//*could consolidate these 3 into "Developed and presented project poster," or something along those lines// //-if we need to cut more text, some of the wordier points in February and April could be consolidated/further simplified//

PDF of Green Roof Proposal: 2/29/12 Here are my calculations ya'll. Please leave comments or concerns above. Rainfall rate: in/hr(1hr/60min)(1ft/12in)(1764ft^2)(28.317L/1ft^3)= liters/min
 * Inches/hour || L/min ||
 * 0.25 || 17.34 ||
 * 0.50 || 34.69 ||
 * 0.75 || 52.03 ||
 * 1.00 || 69.38 ||
 * 1.25 || 86.72 ||
 * 1.50 || 104.06 ||
 * 1.75 || 121.41 ||
 * 2.00 || 138.75 ||
 * 2.25 || 156.10 ||

2/24/12 Measurements of Watershed #8: Total Area = 125.8 m2 Area within Railing = 87.72 m2 - Walkway Area = 2.23 m2 - Vent Area = 0.5184 m2 = Plant Cover Area = 84.9716 m2

2/17/12

@OUR EXPEDITION TO THE ROOF !! Together we brave the heights!!!!!!!

Updates:
 * Brainstorm ideas for what we can do with the areas outside of the railing.
 * How to account for the piping and wooden blocks on the roof with our green cover.
 * Think about whether you'd be willing to go on a 5 hour road trip to CT to help do some green roof work. It'd be some good experience and we'd possibly have hotel rooms...and awesome company!!! More info from Gary TBA

Next Week: Meeting at 2pm next Friday. We'll be taking some measurements on the roof that we'll compare to the estimates.

For more information (GREAT VIDEO), follow **[| this link!]** ...it's hilarious

2/15/12


 * Roof Top Plan**

1. Control 2. Native Plants and Normal Soil 3. Native Plants and Biochar treated soil 4. Some other assortment of plants and normal soil (can't quite remember the last one)
 * Treatments**




 * Tipping Bucket Calibrations**

Biochar links: biochar sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; http://www.springerlink.com/content/etm7526m07672103/

Biological nitrogen fixation by common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) increases with bio-char additions; http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/BiolFertSoils%202006,%20online%20first,%20Rondon.pdf

Amending green roof soil with biochar to affect runoff water quality and quantity http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749111000443#bib9

2/8 Next meeting this Friday, February 10th @ 2 pm in Aiken.

1/30 Next meeting is Friday, February 3 @ 2pm; ground floor of Aiken...

1/20/12 Green Roof Goals for Spring 2012!! 1. Train for the ROOF!! 2. Calibrate the buckets for the roof runoff. 3. Install some temperature sensing equipment on the roof and under the roof with epoxy. 4. Gather baseline data (water flow, temperature, accurately measure the size of the water shed) Later in time! 1. Main Goal Eventually! Prove that the green roof purifies and better controls rain water that normal roofs. 2. Test different treatment options among the installed watersheds. 3. Design the treatments. Group Members
 * 1) Alan McCarthy asmccart@uvm.edu
 * 2) Frances Iannucci fiannucc@uvm.edu
 * 3) Holliday Keen hkeen@uvm.edu
 * 4) Emily Piché emily.piche@uvm.edu
 * 5) Liz Bennett elizabeth.bennett@uvm.edu
 * 6) Allison Maynard aemaynar@uvm.edu
 * 7) Connor Finnerty* cfinnert@uvm.edu

Mentor
 * 1) Gary Hawley gary.hawley@uvm.edu