Adaptive blue-green roofing system

Overview

HydroSense-BioRoof™ is an innovative roofing system that integrates vegetation and micro-wetlands to create multifunctional, revenue-generating surfaces. Designed to retrofit onto EPDM, TPO, or PVC membranes, this system combines capillary water blankets, biochar-enriched substrates, and sensor-driven AI control. It effectively manages rainwater for cooling or grey-water reuse, significantly reducing energy consumption and supporting biodiversity.

Technical specifications

• Components: Capillary water blankets (~40 L/m²), biochar-enriched substrate (120–240 mm), and micro-wetlands (~50 mm).
• Sensors: Includes PT100, heat-flux, and TDR sensors for data collection.
• AI Control: Edge-AI system for optimizing water usage and thermal management.
• Performance: Reduces membrane temperatures by ≥15 °C, cooling demand by ≥25%, and retains ≥40% of rainfall.
• Sustainability: Supports carbon trapping (~8 kg CO₂/m²) and biodiversity through wetland habitats.

Technology readiness level

The system is currently at TRL 5, validated in a 220 m² prototype at the Technical University of Kosice. Plans include expanding to a 1000 m² pilot network to achieve TRL 7 by 2028, with ongoing efforts in AI control scaling, durability testing, and certification.