Using Permeable Pavements to Reduce the Environmental Impacts of Urbanisation

Abstract

Permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICPs) are being increasingly utilised in urban developments globally to promote stormwater infiltration, reduce catchment runoff volumes and to improve the quality of downstream receiving waters. Increased interest in permeable pavements from planners, designers and stormwater managers has led to an increase in permeable pavement research to try to address some of the common misconceptions and to investigate new research areas. This paper summarises the results of an international literature review that was undertaken to identify and examine the current state of permeable pavement research worldwide. The study found that the stormwater management and environmental benefits of permeable pavements are irrefutable and they clearly reflect the principals of low impact development. However, there are also misconceptions and barriers to their more widespread implementation which need to be addressed to ensure their future as an effective LID solution. More targeted research is required to address some of the outstanding issues with permeable pavements.

Blue-green infrastructure as a new trend and an effective tool for water management in urban areas

“…Permeable pavements are an alternative solution for impermeable surfaces used in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, for parking, roads, or pedestrian paths, especially where the traffic is low (Sanicola et al 2018;Sun et al 2018). This is an effective way to improve hydrological and ecological properties in urban areas (Sanicola et al 2018;Lu et al 2020).…”

“…Permeable pavements are an alternative solution for impermeable surfaces used in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, for parking, roads, or pedestrian paths, especially where the traffic is low (Sanicola et al 2018;Sun et al 2018). This is an effective way to improve hydrological and ecological properties in urban areas (Sanicola et al 2018;Lu et al 2020). Permeable pavements have been reported to perform four hydrological functions: storage of rainwater, reduction of surface runoff, outflow delay, and the delay of peak outflow (Fassman and Blackbourn 2010;Lin et al 2014).…”

“…Permeable pavements are an important element of BGI due to their better than impervious surfaces infiltration conditions (from 130 to several thousand mm/h) resulting in an increase in groundwater re- sources (Sanicola et al 2018). Along with the infiltration process, rainwater undergoes purification (see section 3.6, Table 1).…”

“…Moreover, due to the restored soil permeability, the role of the subsurface component of the hydrological cycle is increasing. This part of the water cycle is getting longer (Lin et al 2014;Sanicola et al 2018;Sun et al 2018). Permeable pavements also affect the atmospheric phase (evaporation) of water.…”

Role of Vegetation as a Mitigating Factor in the Urban Context

“…Soil covering with impermeable materials reduces or impedes the infiltration of inflows in the ground, increasing the surface runoff which can determine direct and indirect damages. The result, evident in the last few years, is the drastic increase of floods events (especially the so-called "flash floods" [131]) in different parts of the world [132].…”