The D1.2 Catalogue of innovative sponge solutions - dataset is now available on Zenodo. It supports the securing and improvement of sponge functions as an adaptation to climate change, based on an integrated assessment of social, economic, technical and ecological effects. This dataset is part of Task 1.2 within the SpongeBoost project and focuses on literature evaluation as well as the development of a comprehensive catalogue of best practice approaches and innovative solutions.

To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review was conducted in seven languages: English, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, German, Portuguese and Spanish. In total, 1,938 papers were identified. Based on an analysis of abstracts, 417 papers were considered eligible for the project. After full-text review, 264 papers were included in the final dataset. The majority of these thoroughly studied sponge functions and their impacts, and offered innovative solutions for the future. The highest number of scientific papers was identified in English, followed by Spanish and Dutch, including non-scientific literature such as grey literature, project reports and student theses.

The results show that sponge function is becoming a significant academic topic. An increasing trend has been observed in the number of eligible papers published each year. Most papers use applied research and quantitative methods and focus on natural sciences, engineering and technology, and social sciences. Analyses typically focus on a national scale and rarely study cross-border impacts. Most articles consider rural environments, although some also focus on urban and suburban areas, including the Sponge City concept.