Sustainable pavement: A review on the usage of pavement as a mitigation strategy for UHI

Abstract

Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon is currently affecting many millions of people worldwide. The higher temperatures are experienced in urban areas as compared to the surrounding countryside. The UHI effect has been a great threat to human habitation, and the way to mitigate this problem has been a global concern over decades. Artificial and manmade pavements have been recognised as one of the major origins that deteriorate the thermal environments for living. On the one hand, commonly used pavement materials could lead to a reduced latent heat flux and an increased sensible heat flux to the environment. Following this, there is a series of experiments and numerical analysis that has been conducted by researchers. The selection of pavement type requires an understanding of a local context of an area and characteristics of the pavements. This current study emphasises on reviewing the features, factors and impacts of different type of pavements, as well as determining the suitability of different types of pavements. It is expected that the outcome from this study can assist in further understanding of pavements and its effects on UHI, as well as can ultimately assist in reducing the effect of UHI on human population.

Mitigating Urban Heat Island Effects: A Review of Innovative Pavement Technologies and Integrated Solutions

“…Asphalt concrete pavement, commonly known as flexible pavement, is a blend of asphalt, air voids, and aggregates of various sizes, tailored to accommodate loads ranging from light vehicles to heavy-duty traffic. It is a predominant choice for paving, constituting over 80% of paved surfaces, outpacing other types [36]. This pavement type, however, is vulnerable to damages like rutting, cracking, and corrugation under constant heavy load, moisture, and elevated temperatures [18].…”

Sustainable Mitigation Strategies for Urban Heat Island Effects in Urban Areas

“…There are techniques to include water storage in paving systems, allowing for the use of evaporative cooling on roads, parking areas, and sidewalks [62]. Cooler temperatures are maintained on water-retentive pavements because less solar energy is converted to heat through conduction.…”

A systematic review of heat recovery from roads for mitigating urban heat island effects: current state and future directions

“…It is also important to factor in the long-term costs of maintaining and potentially repairing the system. Ultimately, considering these factors can help ensure the system is efficient, effective, sustainable, and cost-effective in the long run (S. Al-Humairi et al, 2021;Zabihi and Saafi, 2020a). PEX pipe is a low-cost material that is readily available, while carbon nanotubes are more expensive and less readily available.…”