KWR Water Research Institute’s Post

🏙️ Exciting New Research on Urban Cooling and Water Management in Artificial Turf Fields Gijsbert Cirkel and Marjolein van Huijgevoort of KWR Water Research Institute have just published a scientific paper in ‘Frontiers in Sustainable Cities’ as part of the ongoing TKI project CitySports. This innovative project addresses the challenges urban areas face due to increased population density and climate change.   ❗ Problem In many urban spaces, such as sports facilities or parks, artificial turf has replaced natural grass because it can be used more intensively without the need for recovery time, mowing, or irrigation. However, these artificial turfs can heat up to over 50 degrees Celsius, posing risks of burns or heat-related illnesses. Cooling through irrigation is temporary, requires large amounts of water, and poses health risks and unwanted algae and bacterial growth. Additionally, rapid rainwater runoff from artificial turf can increase flooding and degrade water quality due to leaching substances and microplastics.   ⚽ Project CitySports The project focused on a solution that combines rainwater harvesting and capillary irrigation systems to address these cooling needs. A system was created that stores rainwater in a layer beneath the artificial turf, which then cools the turf through evaporation. The main challenge is to do this without compromising playability or causing excessive bacteria and algae growth. The properties of this system were tested on a small scale in the lab of KWR Water Research Institute, on test surfaces at the Marineterrein Amsterdam, and on a training field at sports club Laan van Spartaan.   📊 Results Results showed that artificial turf with a cooling system could be up to 25 degrees Celsius cooler on hot days, reaching temperatures similar to natural grass. The air above the field was also cooler, reducing the Urban Heat Island effect. Additionally, the system holds four times more water than conventional artificial turf, approaching the capacity of natural grass.   🔎 If you are interested in more research results, you can read the scientific paper here: https://lnkd.in/gJiMDTxt 🔎 You can read more about Project CitySports here = https://lnkd.in/gk38rSDF The project is in collaboration with PERMAVOID TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, Gemeente Amsterdam, DutchBlue World, Veolia, Waternet, and Marineterrein Amsterdam, co-funded by TKI Watertechnologie. Gijsbert Cirkel #KWR #UrbanCooling #SustainableCities #WaterManagement #ArtificialTurf

Frontiers | Climate adaptive solution for artificial turf in cities: integrated rainwater storage and evaporative cooling

Frontiers | Climate adaptive solution for artificial turf in cities: integrated rainwater storage and evaporative cooling

frontiersin.org

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