The UT-UBGI project (“Urban Transformations towards Blue-Green Infrastructures”) aims to drive urban transformations through sustainable and future-oriented measures. The project focuses on the development and implementation of blue-green infrastructure that combines ecological and social benefits to make cities more resilient and livable. Using a transdisciplinary approach, scientific knowledge is combined with practical applications to develop concrete solutions for urban practice. A key focus of the project is to investigate and define sustainable strategies that clearly outline the scope and limits of blue-green measures at the urban level. In addition, urban narratives and potential conflicts that may arise during the implementation of blue-green infrastructure are analyzed. This will support the development of effective solutions and their acceptance by the population.

In parallel to the priorities mentioned above, the work package led by KIT-ITAS will quantify the performance of this infrastructure by making its diverse functions, such as urban cooling or the promotion of biodiversity, measurable and evaluating them. Particular attention will also be paid to the water demand for such measures to ensure the sustainable use of this resource. To this end, two tree species with contrasting drought resistance from the tree population of the KIT Campus South and the Leipzig Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research will be equipped with different sensors and exposed to different irrigation situations. The monitoring and evaluation of sap flow, tree radial growth, fine root growth, and microclimatic aspects such as air temperature and relative humidity under the tree canopy will contribute to the development of new blue-green infrastructure concepts.

Overall, the UT-UBGI project is characterized by the combination of transdisciplinary methods, the partnership with German model cities, and the compilation and development of practice-oriented recommendations that municipalities and cities throughout Germany can use. In synthesizing research, practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the UT-UBGI project makes an essential contribution to sustainable urban transformation by providing potential solutions to the challenges of climate change and improving the quality of life in cities.

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