TY - JOUR
T1 - A review on the leaf area index (LAI) in vertical greening systems
AU - De Bock, Anouk
AU - Belmans, Bert
AU - Vanlanduit, Steve
AU - Blom, Johan
AU - Alvarado Alvarado, Allan
AU - Audenaert, Amaryllis
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: This work was conducted within the framework of the practice-oriented research project “WonderWalls”, supported by Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) under the TETRA funding program [HBC.2020.2102].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/2/1
Y1 - 2023/2/1
N2 - The leaf area index (LAI) is a key dynamic parameter in Vertical Greening Systems (VGS). It quantifies the total amount of leaf area in the canopy and largely determines the extent of co-benefits of VGS. Whereas many studies on VGS discuss the importance of the LAI, only few elaborate on the parameter itself, how it is determined and what the current limitations are in VGS. Moreover, although there is scientific consensus on the importance of LAI in VGS, specific non-destructive monitoring techniques for continuous LAI monitoring appear to be absent, which results in limited overall data on the LAI of VGS under different spatial and temporal conditions and problems in quantifying the benefits of VGS in practice. To fill these gaps, this paper specifically focuses on the LAI of VGS and its monitoring techniques. An overview of existing LAI monitoring techniques in the field of VG is presented. To arrive at dedicated techniques, this is complemented by a thorough analysis of LAI monitoring techniques used in other research fields, e.g. agriculture and forestry. It is established that two indirect techniques for LAI monitoring are currently available in the VGS sector, but a proper standardized sampling methodology currently lacks. Monitoring techniques used in other sectors offer opportunities for developing dedicated monitoring methods for VGS, but require further research due to the specific features of VGS systems. Furthermore, guidelines are proposed for a more standardized LAI determination of reporting of LAI values in VGS.
AB - The leaf area index (LAI) is a key dynamic parameter in Vertical Greening Systems (VGS). It quantifies the total amount of leaf area in the canopy and largely determines the extent of co-benefits of VGS. Whereas many studies on VGS discuss the importance of the LAI, only few elaborate on the parameter itself, how it is determined and what the current limitations are in VGS. Moreover, although there is scientific consensus on the importance of LAI in VGS, specific non-destructive monitoring techniques for continuous LAI monitoring appear to be absent, which results in limited overall data on the LAI of VGS under different spatial and temporal conditions and problems in quantifying the benefits of VGS in practice. To fill these gaps, this paper specifically focuses on the LAI of VGS and its monitoring techniques. An overview of existing LAI monitoring techniques in the field of VG is presented. To arrive at dedicated techniques, this is complemented by a thorough analysis of LAI monitoring techniques used in other research fields, e.g. agriculture and forestry. It is established that two indirect techniques for LAI monitoring are currently available in the VGS sector, but a proper standardized sampling methodology currently lacks. Monitoring techniques used in other sectors offer opportunities for developing dedicated monitoring methods for VGS, but require further research due to the specific features of VGS systems. Furthermore, guidelines are proposed for a more standardized LAI determination of reporting of LAI values in VGS.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144556496&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109926
DO - 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109926
M3 - Article
VL - 229
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - Building and Environment
JF - Building and Environment
SN - 0360-1323
IS - 2023
M1 - 109926
ER -