Testing and improvement of innovationsSummary of selected innovations
The innovation stops the unpredictable spread of wildfires in urban areas such as city parks where it can cause serious damages. This is done by the use of unique natural fibre blankets, which are biodegradable, of European origin and specially treated according to the best environmental practices. Another positive effect is that the blankets help to reduce slope erosion.
Testing for BRIGAID will be done in the field in Albania on an attractive, multifunctional entertainment park located in the municipality of Tirana. Both the positive effects on the impacts of fires and on slope erosion, and the use of national Albanian seeds, will be evaluated.
Alma raingarden, by Storm Aqua AS Norway
The innovation consists of a pre-fabricated raingarden that mitigates the negative effects of pluvial floods as a consequence of runoff water from roofs and open spaces. It is a nature based solution that is flexible, that can be adapted to a local situation, that works during winter time and that can be built with a large detention capacity. It has a predictable function and is easy to install. In addition, it provides growth space for plants and it has internal storage capacity for water which is useful for the plants in dryer periods.
Testing for BRIGAID will be done in a controlled environment at a site of the research organization NIBIO at Saerheim in Norway. The requirements for the growth media, the detention and infiltration capacities of the raingarden and the surrounding overflow area will be evaluated.
Natural water retention through restoration of the sponge function of drained soils, by Wetlands International The Netherlands
The solution makes use of ‘sponges approach’ to restore natural drainage conditions of soils in the valleys of sub-basins in the middle mountains of a large river basin, in order to mitigate floods and improve the water quality. It fits a systems approach and contributes to achieve water, agriculture and nature policy objectives as well as delivering societal benefits such as recreation and carbon capture.
Testing for BRIGAID involves a desk study to select and test a customized rainfall runoff model, and a field experiment to measure the effect of natural retention in a drained and undrained valley floor at Trocken / Feucht Wiese, Germany. In addition, stakeholder consultation is organized to determine the quantitative effect of multiple natural retention sites on (sub)basin level.
Flood planting, by Polis University Albania
The innovation aims to reduce the frequency of river floods by planting techniques that are environmentally friendly. This is done through the installation of Coir Logs at the bottom of the river and the planting of three floor vegetation, to enable flood elimination in natural form.
Testing for BRIGAID will be done on site along the Erzeni river in Albania. Next to the positive effects on soil erosion and flood reduction, the potential negative effect that overflows and natural debris may have on the instability of the coir logs, will be evaluated, and this depending on the installation method.
RichWater by BIOAZUL S.L. Spain
It is a modular technology reclaiming water from domestic/urban wastewater for combined irrigation and fertilisation purpose, hence to better cope with water scarcity and droughts in agriculture. The system allows to produce high quality effluent water that meets the regulatory standards for irrigation of crops to be consumed by humans while preserving the content of nutrients relevant for the fertilization of agricultural land.
Testing for BRIGAID is address at an already installed prototype located at the wastewater treatment plant of the Algarrobo municipality (Malaga, Spain). The water quality of the treated effluent, its nutrient content, and the effect on crop growth will be evaluated. Moreover, a Decision Support System software for irrigation and nutrient monitoring and provision with reclaimed water will be developed, and the savings of fertilizers quantified.
Leaf.skin by Singulargreen Spain
The innovation consists of an ultralight vertical garden system that is composed by an anti-root waterproof membrane, a technical fabric as planting support, adhered substrate and seeds with a thickness of only 5mm. It is a low cost, ultralight and ultra-thin solution, with easy and fast installation. Vertical gardening has several advantages such as mitigating the effects of heatwaves and improving the air quality.
Testing for BRIGAID will be done at the CARTIF technology centre at Valladolid and the AITEX textile research institute at Alcoy, Alicante, both in Spain. About 50 new species will be evaluated for the percentage of germination and coverage, lack of nutrients, growth rate, and water stress. At the CARTIF technology centre, the effectiveness of Leaf skin will be evaluated in terms of absorption of pollution and active cooling, as well as the resistance of the construction material, and other options for the material with less carbon footprint. At the AITEX textile research institute, other and better compositions of textile fabrics will be tested to improve the water retention and the reliability of the innovation in case of irrigation failures. Moreover, fire resistance certificates will be obtained.