Subproject 11 of the Research Training Group - Urban Green Infrastructure (RTG UGI)
Urbanization alters soil systems through sealing, compaction, pollution, and extreme weather impacts, reducing infiltration, water retention, and overall soil health. In urban areas, tree pits and green areas are common open soil surfaces, but their design and management are diverse. Some are vegetated, others are covered with grass, gravel, or are uncovered, or managed in other ways. These surface management types directly influence how soils provide essential ecosystem services such as stormwater infiltration, carbon storage, pollutant filtration, and support for urban trees. Despite their importance, there is limited understanding of how soils in tree pits and green areas function under different surface management types and how they contribute to urban resilience.
This research assesses how naturally occurring surface management types (vegetation, grass, gravel, or uncovered soil) affect soil functions in urban green spaces. We combine in-situ measurements (e.g. soil moisture, infiltration, compaction) with laboratory analyses (e.g. water retention, carbon content, aggregate stability, pollutants) to evaluate how soil properties respond under both baseline conditions and extreme events such as heavy rainfall. By comparing sites with and without trees, the project aims to identify the role of vegetation cover and tree presence in shaping soil health and ecosystem service delivery. Knowledge will be shared to support evidence-based decisions and to promote soils as key drivers of ecosystem services and urban resilience.
In the first cohort, research focused on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), investigating how soil amendments such as biochar could improve water regulation, pollutant filtration, and biodiversity in engineered green infrastructure. These findings provide an important foundation and demonstrate the potential of soil management to enhance multifunctionality in urban environments.
Funding
German Research Foundation DFG
Duration
04.2025 - 03.2028 (Second cohort)
Team and Contact
Samantha Spinoso Sosa (Project researcher, PhD Candidate): samantha.spinoso-sosa(at)tum.de
Monika Egerer (PI): monika.egerer(at)tum.de
Mohsen Zare (PI): mohsen.zare(at)tum.de
Website
https://www.gs.tum.de/en/grk/urban-green-infrastructure/cluster-and-subprojects/cluster-3/subproject-11-soil-functionality/ (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Stephan Pauleit)