Research Award of Excellence – Published Work

Award Winner: Tim Carter, Ph.D., Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia

Tim Carter, Ph.D., Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, has made an enormous contribution to the body of knowledge of green roofs’ benefits – while raising the profile of the industry.

Tim Carter’s research has greatly enhanced the profile of green roofs in the Southeast United States. His article, "The Hydrologic Behavior of Vegetated Roofs" in the *Journal of the American Water Resources Association,* (2006) was one of the first technical green roof articles in an English peer-reviewed journal to specifically deal with green roof hydrology.

Carter’s research designed a cost-effective experimental methodology and apparatus that monitors real-time transient water flows through the vegetated roof system. As a result, he was able to demonstrate how green roofs retain large amounts of stormwater from smaller storms, that seasonal factors play a large role with regard to the amount of retention and, ultimately, proved that vegetated roofs can effectively be used to mitigate some of the hydrologic effects of an impervious roof – such as increased erosion and disruption of downstream eco-systems. Research advances knowledge when the building blocks it generates are based on sound and transparent methods communicated clearly. With this research, which was exceptionally well-designed, executed and documented in a powerful article, Carter has provided a foundation for the future of hydrological research.

The green roof industry relies heavily upon the hydrologic benefits of green roofs – peak-flow reduction and increased evapotranspiration of stormwater, for instance – as a key benefit and Carter’s research is a foundational work in that regard.  His hydrological findings have reached a wide audience and been cited in both journal articles and non-scientific reports identifying green roof benefits.

Carter has since published numerous times on green roofs in a variety of highly respected peer-reviewed journals (see citation list) on subjects ranging from economic analysis of green roofs to watershed modeling of green roof systems, to green roof policy. In addition to his research work, he has actively worked outside the academy to promote green roofs, forming relationships with the commercial roofing industry in the American Southeast.

“I'm honored to receive this award and am extremely grateful to my colleagues in the greater green-roof research community for this recognition,” says Carter. “We are thankful the green roof industry recognizes the importance of scientific research as a primary foundation upon which to grow.”

Learn More…

Carter, T.L., and T.C. Rasmussen. 2005. “Vegetated roofs as a stormwater best management practice in an ultra-urban watershed.” In K.J. Hatcher (ed). Proceedings of the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Carter, Timothy 2005, ‘Use of Green Roofs for Ultra-Urban Stream Restoration in the Georgia Piedmont’ , in Proceedings of the Third Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference Awards and Trade Show, Washington, D.C., May 4th to 6th, 2005, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

Carter, T.L. and T.C. Rasmussen, 2006. “Hydrologic behavior of vegetated roofs.” Journal of the American Water Resources Association 42:1261-1274.

Carter, T.L. and C.R. Jackson, 2007. “Vegetated roofs for stormwater management at multiple spatial scales.” Landscape and Urban Planning 80: 84-94.

Carter, T.L., Rasmussen, T., Jackson, C.R., Keeler, A., Fowler, L., Meyer, J.L., and Gattie, D. 2007. “Vegetated roofs: performance and policy in Athens, GA” In T. Rasmussen, G. Carroll, and A. Georgakakos (Eds). Proceedings of the 2007 Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Carter, T.L. and C. Butler, 2008. “Ecological impacts of replacing traditional roofs with green roofs in two urban areas.” Cities and the Environment 2: article 9, 17 pp.

Carter, T.L. and L. Fowler, 2008. “Establishing green roof infrastructure through environmental policy instruments.” Environmental Management 42: 151-164.

Carter, T.L. and A. Keeler, 2008. “Life cycle cost benefit analysis of extensive vegetated roof systems.” Journal of Environmental Management 87: 350-363.

See Also

Dr. Carter's Website: tlclimb.myweb.uga.edu/

Some of the articles mentioned above can be found at: www.rivercenter.uga.edu

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