The heart of urban life beats in the public squares of city centres and neighbourhoods. Squares form hubs in the urban fabric and offer a wide range of design and use options - from weekly markets and catering facilities to event spaces and green-blue oases of tranquillity. They are places to meet, relax and regenerate. Above all, vital urban trees contribute to a high quality of place. They form a dense canopy of leaves that shades and cools the whole area, creating a pleasant microclimate. The more sealed surfaces are shaded, the less stored heat needs to be released into the environment at night - counteracting the heat island effect. However, climate change, particularly the lack of available water, is also causing problems for urban trees.
As a specialist in water technology, ACO has developed pioneering solutions for the careful management of urban trees. These include systems that collect rainwater from roofs and traffic routes and, after thorough cleaning, direct it into a reservoir. From this reservoir, the required amount of water is extracted and used to irrigate urban trees. Fully automated, radio-controlled irrigation technology makes it possible to supply treated rainwater to the city's greenery as and when it is needed. The weather forecast can also be taken into account. At the same time, the ACO systems ensure that excess water seeps into the ground and recharges the groundwater. A double benefit: the technology ensures the survival of urban trees while conserving valuable drinking water reserves.
