Ecological road design
A study on the effects of roads on ecosystem services in Leiden
C. van Duuren (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Rients Dijkstra – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Design)
Rene van der Velde – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Landscape Architecture)
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Abstract
In recent decades, the world’s population has increased exponentially and is expected to increase even more in the coming years. More and more people are moving to the city. In the Netherlands, too, we are dealing with population growth in the Randstad, and therefore also in Leiden. This increase puts extra pressure on the already extensive road network. The road network of Leiden has a negative impact on the ecosystem services that are related to roads. This lack of improving road ecosystem services makes the road network unable to cope with today’s urban challenges, such as climate change, people’s health and urban biodiversity. The current road system can even form a barrier between ecological structures. Roads play a significant role in the city’s performance, and therefore also have great potential to make a positive contribution to the aforementioned problems. A road network will always be part of modern developed cities, so serious discussion about alternative design for road infrastructure within urban landscaped are now needed.