Digital Planning Tool: Blue-Green Infrastructure Planner (BGI Planner)

Structure of the Tool

At the beginning, users are given the opportunity to delineate their project area directly within a map application. In addition, existing plans—such as a proposed new building—can be uploaded in geodata format. The project area defined in this way can then be analyzed and further developed in three different modules.

The first module is used to identify needs for action within the project area. Users are shown various maps addressing the topics of heavy rainfall, heat, water body protection, soil sealing, and the water balance. For each map, users are asked whether the respective need for action applies to the project area, for example with questions such as: “Where are there areas with high or extreme heat stress of 35 °C or more?” In this way, users can assess how relevant the individual topics are and where they occur spatially within the project area. At the end of the first module, a summary of the analysis is presented, on the basis of which conclusions can be drawn regarding the most important needs for action in the project area.

The second module examines feasibility and potential for subsequent planning. Relevant potential maps are used for this purpose, for example maps showing green roof potential. At the same time, users consider possible planning constraints, such as heritage protection requirements or the preservation of existing mature trees. This results in a realistic picture of which measures are generally feasible and where limitations exist.

The third module enables an initial planning and impact assessment of measures. Based on the results of the first two modules (i.e., the identified needs for action and the determined feasibilities), users can place blue-green infrastructure measures within the project area at this stage. A catalog of 20 measures is available for this purpose, each described in detail in comprehensive fact sheets. At the same time, the tool provides an initial assessment of the effects of these measures. The evaluation takes place on several levels: using the ABIMO water balance model, the impact of the planning on the local water balance is calculated. In addition, pre-calculated model scenarios on the topics of heat and heavy rainfall are displayed, enabling users to estimate the effects of their planning. Furthermore, a rough assessment of impacts on water body protection is also presented. The results of these impact assessments are based on model simulations carried out within the framework of the “Smart Water” project.

Project Milestones

2023: Initial Development

• May 2023: A steering round for the BGI Planner took place at the Einstein Center Digital Future. Approximately 20 stakeholders from the Smart Water project participated in workshops and role-playing exercises to define initial requirements and expectations for the tool. The results of the steering round can be found here.
  
• June 2023: During the Measures Workshop organised by the Technologiestiftung Berlin, planning processes from district offices and senate departments were analysed to establish specific requirements for the BGI Planner. This included four planning scenarios: new developments, urban renewal areas, green space planning, and street planning. Further details of this process can be found here. A comprehensive report on the Measures Workshop is also available.
  
  A comprehensive documentation of the measures workshop is also available for download. Learn more about how a Measures Workshop works here.
  

2024: Development of a Click Dummy

• Since the summer of 2024, the Technologiestiftung Berlin has been developing a Click Dummy – a clickable prototype of the future user interface. This prototype is being created through an agile process alongside planners and is continuously refined via regular testing, known as hallway testing. Experts provide feedback on the tool's usability and functionality to ensure it meets users' needs.

2025: Usability Testing and Modelling

• Usability Testing: Throughout 2025, urban planners will test the Click Dummy to assess its ease of use and overall user-friendliness.
• Modelling Impacts: The Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin and the Berliner Wasserbetriebe will model the effects of blue-green infrastructure on urban climate, water protection, flood prevention, and water management. They will utilise 1D, 2D, and 3D models to simulate weather events in pilot areas, identifying heat hotspots, flood risks during heavy rainfall, and other vulnerabilities. The analysis will also look into the overflow of sewage systems into Berlin’s water bodies, including its impact on water quality. These findings will be directly integrated into the BGI Planner.
• Prototype Development: The programming of the prototype is scheduled to commence in autumn 2025.

2026: Completion and Handover

• The prototype of the BGI Planner will be finalised by September 2026. Initially, it will provide results for the pilot areas of Ostkreuzkiez (Friedrichshain) and Alte Schäferei (Pankow).
• The tool will then be handed over to Berlin’s Senate Department for Urban Development, Building, and Housing (SenStadt Berlin), which will be responsible for its further development and the expansion of available data.
• The Blue-Green Infrastructure Planner represents a significant step towards making Berlin a more sustainable and resilient city in the face of climate change.