Twentse waterweken event

You may have already seen several events in the region focussing on water: it's the Twentse Water Weeks! 

These are all kinds of activities focusing on the theme of water throughout the region. There are tours, excursions, cycle tours, open days, and the activities are for varying ages as well. Today I am giving 4 tours at the UT Field Lab to showcase our green roof research project (in Dutch, for ages 8 and up). So join us at the Field Lab this morning and check out the other experiments while you're here.

 

Demonstratie verkoelende effect van een groen dak en groene muur op Universiteit Twente Enschede

Wat is het verkoelende effect van een groendak of groene muur tijdens een hittegolf? In deze demonstratie in het UT Field Lab laten we zien hoe verschillende soorten groendaken en groene muren worden getest door de temperatuur, vochtigheid, neerslag, zonnestraling en wind te monitoren.

 

Site visit Hengelo

Once again we were able to visit municipality Hengelo and get in-depth information from the project manager and architect developing this multiannual plan. This year, the students had already performed a thermal walk along the same locations previously studied in summer. The most unexpected feature was the temperature, with 15 degrees Celsius it was unusually hot for December, with some students even walking around in a t-shirt. This changed later in the afternoon during our site visit though. The recycled materials blended in well and were only noticed when they were pointed out.  

What we learned of upcoming plans is that the renewal of the shopping center will feature stream restoration. The planned underground parking garage had to be changed to above ground, of ten stories. This will affect the skyline of Hengelo in the coming years, and thereby also the sun reaching this restored stream area. South of the market square housing with accessible green areas are planned. As plans can change frequently, we eagerly await to see what the end result will be of the newly revised areas. 

 

Opening of the UT Field Lab

Today the UT Field Lab, formerly Living Innovation Lab (LILa) was formally opened. It was great to see so many people visit the site and learn about our experiments. I even got several prospective building occupants to agree to help out with our upcoming measurements. Speaking of upcoming, what does our part of the site look like now? Part one of construction is completed! The roof now has a fall protection barrier installed. We are still waiting for the staircase, but as it is steel, it requires drilling into the ground for anchoring which takes somewhat more time to arrange. For now, here is the new roof. And our new UT FIeld Lab jackets!

 

The terrain also had some last day upgrades with new signage and QR codes to link to more information.

My setup was rather empty as the outside of the building, but I brought in as much visualization as possible. There were touchable layers of a green roof, examples of all the exterior sensors, and a simplified 3D Lego demonstration of the different types of roofs and walls to examine. Along with slides, this gave a better representation than merely the barren walls existing now. 

The event was well attended. I only wish there was more time for us to visit each other's research sites. More details and interviews and a video with the main leads at the UT news websites.

   

 

LILa construction August-September 2025

These were the final months before the official opening in October, and we finally get to see the new sign renaming the location to UT Field Lab.

In August little vegetation is growing as a result of the construction.

Towards the end of August, this is much the same.

In September, two new signs are placed at the two entrances, one near the BMC building.

 

GI example: wadi and playground in Wierden

In the North of the town Wierden is a nature playground. Although it has been added into the neighborhood's edges as a developmental afterthought, it still performs well as a multifunctional space. 

 

The reason the space was still available for use lies in the power poles. We have seen the same in Enschede on a larger scale previously. In the Netherlands special guidelines prohibit building near power poles due to obviously the height of structures interfering with the lines themselves, and because it is potentially causing a slightly higher chance of cancer when you live too close. It is still suitable for the combination of playground and temporary water storage, under the assumption that children won't go play in flooded playgorunds.  

Some parts of the area have elevated paths and concrete tubes run underneath to connect the different wadi storage areas. Municipality Wierden is one of few who include an explanation of how wadi's are supposed to function on their website, including a video with English closed captions (from Enschede).