Automated Estimation of Urban Vertical Greenery Potential

Cities are increasingly threatened by the effects of rising temperatures. Due to the heat island effect, cities experience greater heat stress, leading to increased energy demand and reduced quality of life. Vertical greenery systems (VGSs), such as green facades and living walls, offer a spatially efficient strategy to mitigate these impacts. The environmental and social benefits of vertical greenery are well established. However, large-scale implementation is lacking methods that integrate relevant data to compute the variety of factors determining a surface’s suitability. This paper aims to fill this gap by introducing a computational method for evaluating the potential of individual building walls for vertical greening. Using the city of Leipzig as a case study, the approach integrates 3D building data (LoD2) with street view imagery to compute key factors such as orientation or Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR). These factors are then integrated into a composite index prioritizing walls with high potential for reducing urban heat stress. The study thus provides a practical tool for urban planners and policymakers to support targeted climate adaptation strategies.