Utilizing green roofs to mitigate urban environmental challenges: application to Mashhad Metropolitan Area

Green roofs are sustainable systems able to improve the building envelope performance. Planning urban green spaces should tackle the significant environmental challenges in contemporary cities. Identifying the problematic areas in the cities for implementing green roofs to better utilize their environmental benefits is an objective that is rarely considered in the literature and urban planning. The main purpose of this research is to determine and prioritize susceptible areas to implement green roofs for maximizing their benefits, with an emphasis on mitigating environmental challenges in urban areas. The case we choose is the second largest city in Iran, Mashhad. Four classifications are used to implement green roof projects in Mashhad. The obtained results show that high-priority areas to implement green roofs are in the eastern and northeastern districts of Mashhad. The highest air pollution, vehicle traffic, and the population-attracting centers (Imam Reza shrine) are concentrated in these areas. Due to the lack of enough space to create ground parks or other green features in these areas, utilizing green roofs is an appropriate tool to alleviate their environmental challenges. The development of ArcMap extensions and using accurate indicators based on real data will help urban managers in policy-making and future decisions about green roof projects. This methodology helps to promote green spaces, air quality, and quality of life in the cities and approach urban sustainability goals.