An important consideration for future road projects in a world of the rising temperatures, heatwaves and bushfire frequency. High road temperatures prevent wildlife crossings, limiting their habitat, survival and gene pool. Heated asphalt roads can also impact human health - by releasing volatile organic compounds from asphalt and increasing other health related emergencies such as heat strokes. Adaptive road material/design is critical in the face of climate change.
This weekend has been another extremely hot weekend in Europe, and our cities are hit hard by the #urbanheatisland. I recently came across a study conducted in Rotterdam by gina kranendonk that caught my attention. It demonstrates how semi-green pavement can significantly lower temperatures – the semi-green pavement registers a temperature at 21°C, while the asphalt heats up to 33°C! This research suggests that we have the knowledge to reduce urban heat stress by rethinking our urban design, favoring more green spaces over gray ones. You can watch Gina's findings in action in this YouTube video: https://lnkd.in/duu_GJ6S