Research and Publications
Explore technical guidelines, journal articles, and publications on skyrise greenery.
Last updated 24 August 2026
In association with our partners, the results of our studies are published in various forms for dissemination to the industry and relevant professionals.
Publications
These Technical Guidelines by the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) address important considerations in the design of Skyrise Greenery, ranging from design and systems to installation to maintenance.
CS E03:2010 - Guidelines on Substrate Layer for Rooftop Greenery
Outlines the basic physical and chemical properties for quality referencing in the composition and construction of the substrate layer for use on rooftop greenery.
CS E04:2010 - Guidelines on Filter, Drainage and Root Penetration Barrier Layers For Rooftop Greenery
Outlines the basic technical requirements for quality referencing in the construction of the filter, drainage and root penetration barrier layers of rooftop greenery.
CS E05:2012 - Guidelines on Waterproofing For Rooftop Greenery
Outlines the basic considerations and requirements for the selection, application, protection and testing of the waterproofing layer of green roofs and roof gardens.
CS E06:2012 - Guidelines on Irrigation For Rooftop Greenery
Outlines the basic technical considerations and requirements for the design, construction and up-keep of the irrigation system for green roofs and roof gardens.
CS E07:2012 - Guidelines on General Maintenance for Rooftop Greenery
Describes basic requirements for the general maintenance of green roofs and roof gardens, including basic maintenance needs of rooftop vegetation and other technical components.
CS E08:2012 - Guidelines on Design and Construction of Pitched Green Roof
Identifies the basic requirements for the design and construction of pitched green roof to address pitched green roof stability and feasibility issues.
CS E09:2012 - Guidelines on Planting of Trees, Palms and Tall Shrubs on Rooftop
Identifies key horticultural requirements for trees, palms, and tall shrubs on roof gardens, including architectural considerations such as rooftop planter sizing and design.
CS E10:2014 - Guidelines on Design Loads for Skyrise Greenery
Identifies the basic requirements, considerations and estimates for associated design loads in the design, planning and operation of rooftop greenery and vertical greenery.
CS E11:2014 - Guidelines on Design for Safety of Skyrise Greenery
Shows relevant safety requirements and design considerations, emphasizing the need for safe planning, design, and operation of rooftop and vertical greenery as elevated vegetated workspaces.
CS E12:2017 - Design Guides to Promote Biodiversity on Roof Gardens
The guide provides evidence-based recommendations for designing and managing biodiverse roof gardens, developed by ecology and industry experts in Singapore.
Journal Articles
Rooftop Greenery (Thermal Performance)
Wong, N. H., Wong, V. L., Chen, Y., Lee, S. E., Cheong, D., Lim, G. T., ... & Sia, A. (2002). The thermal effects of plants on buildings. (opens in new tab) Architectural Science Review, 45(4), 337-348.
Wong, N. H., Chen, Y., Ong, C. L., & Sia, A. (2003). Investigation of thermal benefits of rooftop garden in the tropical environment. (opens in new tab) Building and environment, 38(2), 261-270.
Hien, W. N., Yok, T. P., & Yu, C. (2007). Study of thermal performance of extensive rooftop greenery systems in the tropical climate (opens in new tab). Building and Environment, 42(1), 25-54.
Tan, C. L., Tan, P. Y., Wong, N. H., Takasuna, H., Kudo, T., Takemasa, Y., ... & Chua, H. X. V. (2017). Impact of soil and water retention characteristics on green roof thermal performance. (opens in new tab) Energy and Buildings, 152, 830-842.
Yang, J., Pyrgou, A., Chong, A., Santamouris, M., Kolokotsa, D., & Lee, S. E. (2018). Green and cool roofs’ urban heat island mitigation potential in tropical climate. (opens in new tab) Solar Energy, 173, 597-609.
He, Y., Lin, E. S., Yu, Z., Tan, C. L., Tan, P. Y., & Wong, N. H. (2021). The effect of dynamic albedos of plant canopy on thermal performance of rooftop greenery: A case study in Singapore. (opens in new tab) Building and Environment, 205, 108247.
He, Y., Lin, E. S., Tan, C. L., Yu, Z., Tan, P. Y., & Wong, N. H. (2021). Model development of Roof Thermal Transfer Value (RTTV) for green roof in tropical area: A case study in Singapore (opens in new tab). Building and Environment, 203, 108101.
He, Y., Lin, E. S., Tan, C. L., Tan, P. Y., & Wong, N. H. (2021). Quantitative evaluation of plant evapotranspiration effect for green roof in tropical area: A case study in Singapore (opens in new tab). Energy and Buildings, 241, 110973.
Vertical Greenery (Thermal Performance)
Wong, N. H., Tan, A. Y. K., Chen, Y., Sekar, K., Tan, P. Y., Chan, D., ... & Wong, N. C. (2010). Thermal evaluation of vertical greenery systems for building walls. (opens in new tab) Building and environment, 45(3), 663-672.
Tan, C. L., Wong, N. H., & Jusuf, S. K. (2014). Effects of vertical greenery on mean radiant temperature in the tropical urban environment. (opens in new tab) Landscape and Urban Planning, 127, 52-64.
Building Energy Performance
Wong, N. H., Cheong, D. W., Yan, H., Soh, J., Ong, C. L., & Sia, A. (2003). The effects of rooftop garden on energy consumption of a commercial building in Singapore. (opens in new tab) Energy and buildings, 35(4), 353-364.
Wong, N. H., Tan, A. Y. K., Tan, P. Y., & Wong, N. C. (2009). Energy simulation of vertical greenery systems. (opens in new tab) Energy and buildings, 41(12), 1401-1408.
Acoustics
Wong, N. H., Tan, A. Y. K., Tan, P. Y., Chiang, K., & Wong, N. C. (2010). Acoustics evaluation of vertical greenery systems for building walls. (opens in new tab)Building and environment, 45(2), 411-420.
Biodiversity and Ecology
Hwang, Y. H., & Yue, Z. E. J. (2015). Observation of biodiversity on minimally managed green roofs in a tropical city. (opens in new tab) J. Living Archit, 2, 9-26.
Wang, J. W., Poh, C. H., Tan, C. Y. T., Lee, V. N., Jain, A., & Webb, E. L. (2017). Building biodiversity: drivers of bird and butterfly diversity on tropical urban roof gardens (opens in new tab). Ecosphere, 8(9), e01905.
Oh, R. R., Richards, D. R., & Yee, A. T. (2018). Community-driven skyrise greenery in a dense tropical city provides biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits. (opens in new tab)Landscape and Urban Planning, 169, 115-123.
Water (Stormwater and Runoff Quality)
Qin, X., Wu, X., Chiew, Y. M., & Li, Y. (2012). A green roof test bed for stormwater management and reduction of urban heat island effect in Singapore. (opens in new tab) British Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 2(4), 410.
Lim, H. S., Segovia, E., & Ziegler, A. D. (2021). Water quality impacts of young green roofs in a tropical city: a case study from Singapore. (opens in new tab)Blue-Green Systems, 3(1), 145-163.
Plants, Substrates and Horticultural performance
Tan, P. Y., & Sia, A. (2009). Understanding the performance of plants on non-irrigated green roofs in Singapore using a biomass yield approach. (opens in new tab) Nature in Singapore, 2, 149-153.
Cost, Life Cycle and Economics
Wong, N. H., Tay, S. F., Wong, R., Ong, C. L., & Sia, A. (2003). Life cycle cost analysis of rooftop gardens in Singapore. (opens in new tab) Building and environment, 38(3), 499-509.
Huang, Z., Tan, C. L., Lu, Y., & Wong, N. H. (2021). Holistic analysis and prediction of life cycle cost for vertical greenery systems in Singapore. (opens in new tab)Building and Environment, 196, 107735.
Perception, Adoption and Stakeholders
Wong, N. H., Wong, S. J., Lim, G. T., Ong, C. L., & Sia, A. (2005). Perception study of building professionals on the issues of green roof development in Singapore (opens in new tab). Architectural science review, 48(3), 205-214.
Yuen, B., & Hien, W. N. (2005). Resident perceptions and expectations of rooftop gardens in Singapore. (opens in new tab) Landscape and urban planning, 73(4), 263-276.
Wong, N. H., Tan, A. Y. K., Tan, P. Y., Sia, A., & Wong, N. C. (2010). Perception studies of vertical greenery systems in Singapore. (opens in new tab) Journal of urban planning and development, 136(4), 330-338.
Safety and Design practice
Behm, M., & Choon Hock, P. (2012). Safe design of skyrise greenery in Singapore. (opens in new tab) Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 1(2), 186-205.
Greenery with Solar PV
Rahmaniah, F., Lim, J. H. M., Poh, C. H., He, L. S., Yeo, J., Wang, J. W., ... & Tay, S. E. R. (2025). Holistic assessment of co-located solar photovoltaics and greenery in the tropics: Results on solar photovoltaic output, greenery growth, and roof surface temperature. (opens in new tab) Applied Energy, 395, 126133.
Rahmaniah, F., & Tay, S. E. R. (2023). Environmental benefits of co-located photovoltaic and greenery systems: A review on the operational performance and assessment framework across climate zones. (opens in new tab)Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 58, 103301.
Lu, Y., Ting, S. A., Tan, C. L., & Tay, S. E. R. (2025). Integration of photovoltaics and greenery in urban building envelopes: a parametric study on energy efficiency and climate resilience in tropical city. (opens in new tab)Energy and Buildings, 116574.
Indoor and Productive Greenery
Tan, C. L., Wong, N. H., Tan, P. Y., Ismail, M., & Wee, L. Y. (2017). Growth light provision for indoor greenery: A case study. Energy and Buildings, (opens in new tab) 144, 207-217.
Song, X. P., Tan, H. T., & Tan, P. Y. (2018). Assessment of light adequacy for vertical farming in a tropical city. Urban forestry & urban greening (opens in new tab), 29, 49-57.
Mapping and Monitoring
Wu, A. N., & Biljecki, F. (2021). Roofpedia: Automatic mapping of green and solar roofs for an open roofscape registry and evaluation of urban sustainability. (opens in new tab) Landscape and Urban Planning, 214, 104167.
Reviews and Syntheses
Wong, N. H., Tan, C. L., Kolokotsa, D. D., & Takebayashi, H. (2021). Greenery as a mitigation and adaptation strategy to urban heat. (opens in new tab) Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 2(3), 166-181.
Chàfer, M., Cabeza, L. F., Pisello, A. L., Tan, C. L., & Wong, N. H. (2021). Trends and gaps in global research of greenery systems through a bibliometric analysis. (opens in new tab) Sustainable Cities and Society, 65, 102608.
Next: Plant Resources
Check out suggested plant species for green roofs and walls