An Engineer’s Path To Building The Rooftop Farm [TOP]
Arumugam Papst
The Mayor's Office of Urban Agriculture (MOUA) leads the City's efforts to increase access to and production of locally grown food, strengthen climate resiliency, and spur economic activity throughout the five boroughs. Through research, policy development, advocacy, and community outreach, MOUA aims to address the climate, health, and food disparities in our natural and built environments. Through collaboration with other city agencies, MOUA advances urban agriculture on several fronts: environmental justice, gardens, urban farms, food equity, workforce development, and building a green, resilient economy.
Even countries with extensive farmlands face the growing threats of global warming and urban population explosion. As these trends increase, the urban farming techniques used in Singapore may mark a path toward food security for the entire world.
Civil engineering includes the design and construction of bridges, buildings, dams, waterways, coastal protection works, airports, pipelines, space launching facilities, railroads, highways, sanitary systems, ocean structures and facilities, foundations, harbors, waterworks and many other systems and structures upon which modern civilization depends.
Civil Engineering is the oldest and most diverse branch of engineering and includes the design and construction of bridges, buildings, dams, waterways, coastal protection works, airports, pipelines, space launching facilities, railroads, highways, sanitary systems, ocean structures and facilities, foundations, harbors, waterworks and many other systems and structures upon which modern civilization depends. In its broadest sense, the civil engineer adapts the physical features of the earth to the needs of society. Approximately one out of four engineers is engaged in civil engineering.
The BS in Architectural Engineering degree prepares graduates for professional engineering careers within the architectural, engineering and construction industry. Specifically, it prepares graduates to become licensed professional engineers, achieve leadership positions in consulting firms, suppliers or government agencies, as well as successfully complete graduate studies in engineering or other areas. The Structural Building Systems Track to fulfill the BS in Architectural Engineering degree prepares students for careers with more emphasis on the structural design and safety of buildings. The focus electives prepare students to design and analyze structural systems for buildings.
The Planning Department has researched best practices, current green building process, and best site-specific solutions for the City to make living roofs a more viable option for existing and planned buildings. The Department will continue to work with other City agencies to explore how rooftop space can be designed to its highest and best use, including other strategies like solar, open space, and play areas.
In dense, urban cities our rooftops are valuable space that can be used more efficiently to benefit our environment and our communities. Rooftops are 30% of San Francisco's land area, and an untapped resource. This new ordinance will provide flexibility for the building designer, owner, and developer to choose the best combination of solar photovoltaic, solar water heating and living roof systems to maximize benefits based on location and building program. With the myriad of benefits that these technologies provide, the legislation would encourage a higher and better utilization of valuable rooftop space.
ARUP engineers analyzed the cost-effectiveness of meeting the Better Roofs requirement entirely with a living roof instead of solar for the alternative compliance path. The report was unique as its inputs and metrics were specific to San Francisco's climate. Our Mediterranean climate and recent drought made the San Francisco report critical for accurate results.
We need a diverse, equitable workforce skilled in building nature-based solutions. To reach this goal, the roadmap recommends that agencies expand educational and workforce training offerings related to nature-based solutions to support good jobs in federal agencies and the private sector. These needs apply across a wide range of skills including engineering, law, finance, ecology, accounting, economics, community planning and maintenance for nature-based solutions. Administration actions include:
From all four sides of the buildings, visitors and staff will be invited to hike around the facility and end their walk on the roof. Here, 900 photovoltaic panels are placed and angled according to optimal solar efficiency while effective construction and materials methods, rainwater collection systems, heat and cooling systems, green roofs, and electric vehicles contribute to ca 90% lower energy demand than that of a conventional factory. An ADA-accessible ramp will allow wheelchairs and strollers to enjoy the serpentine path and the experience of being surrounded by pine trees on all sides.
As a continuous path in the landscape, both sides of the building serve as the main entrance. From the south entry, visitors cross a 16 m aluminum-clad steel bridge to reach the double-height space, with a clear view to the north end, similarly linked with a 9 m pedestrian bridge.
Land use and other human activities also influence the peak discharge of floods by modifying how rainfall and snowmelt are stored on and run off the land surface into streams. In undeveloped areas such as forests and grasslands, rainfall and snowmelt collect and are stored on vegetation, in the soil column, or in surface depressions. When this storage capacity is filled, runoff flows slowly through soil as subsurface flow. In contrast, urban areas, where much of the land surface is covered by roads and buildings, have less capacity to store rainfall and snowmelt. Construction of roads and buildings often involves removing vegetation, soil, and depressions from the land surface. The permeable soil is replaced by impermeable surfaces such as roads, roofs, parking lots, and sidewalks that store little water, reduce infiltration of water into the ground, and accelerate runoff to ditches and streams. Even in suburban areas, where lawns and other permeable landscaping may be common, rainfall and snowmelt can saturate thin soils and produce overland flow, which runs off quickly. Dense networks of ditches and culverts in cities reduce the distance that runoff must travel overland or through subsurface flow paths to reach streams and rivers. Once water enters a drainage network, it flows faster than either overland or subsurface flow.
KU Aerospace Engineering is one of the top programs in the world in aircraft and engine design education. Four NASA astronauts earned degrees at KU, including one in the 2017 astronaut class. With an emphasis on designing, simulating, building, testing, and flying aerospace vehicles and systems, aerospace engineering students at KU receive access to unmatched educational opportunities.
Whether its advanced materials, biomechanics, emerging transportation technologies, or a wide variety of other fields, mechanical engineers have a vast network of career opportunities available to them due to the remarkable versatility of this degree. From award winning race cars and energy efficient vehicle development to advanced spinal implants and an easier path to recovery from knee surgery, mechanical engineering at KU offers a wide variety of opportunities, including robust offerings in bioengineering and biomechanics.
Solar farms, also known as solar parks or solar fields, are large areas of land containing interconnected solar panels positioned together over many acres, to harvest large amounts of solar energy at the same time. Solar farms are designed for large-scale solar energy generation that feed directly into the grid, as opposed to individual solar panels that usually power a single home or building.
Gustavo Carranza currently serves as the Senior Irrigation Manager at the Wonderful Orchards division
based in Firebaugh, California. Coming from a multi-generational farming family, Gustavo has always
had a passion for agriculture which has led him to follow his current career path. In his current role, he
enjoys implementing creative and innovative techniques to improve farming efficiency and develop
solutions for several industry challenges. Additionally, during his time with Wonderful Orchards,
Gustavo has served as an advocate of Health & Wellness initiatives and has hosted High School and
College students for job shadow opportunities and internships.
The Daybreak Library located in South Jordan, UT is nestled into a transit and pedestrian friendly location that make it easy for visitors to access. The library has maximized its footprint by including leisure space in and around the building, which includes a sloped green roof leading to a rooftop patio that is shaded by solar panels.
In contrast to extensive green roofs, intensive green roofs contain a greater variety of plant types. They also require greater maintenance and inputs of fertilizer and water. An intensive green roof is designed to look much like a city park, with lawns, perennials, bushes, and trees. Some intensive green roofs even have benches, ponds, or playgrounds built into their designs. Green roofs used for rooftop farming are one example of an intensive system. Intensive green roofs require a roof with high load-bearing capacity, as they may weigh 35 to 80+ pounds per square foot. They will also require a permanent irrigation system and are the most labor-intensive and expensive green roof type.
Special considerations for rooftop gardens include sun exposure, wind, temperature, and access. Rooftop gardens are seldom shaded, excess sun exposure can be a problem for some food plants. The plants may also require extra watering to fight against the damaging effects of constant sun and higher temperatures. Overhead irrigation on rooftop gardens often blows away, so drip irrigation is a better choice when irrigation is necessary. Soils on rooftops will dry out faster after rainfall than will soils on the ground. Mulching soil can help keep it moist in between rain or irrigation. Also, wind speeds double for every 10 stories of building height, so it may also be necessary to stabilize plants and/or containers.
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