Hot Town, Summer in the City
Dec 20
The report by Jiachuan Yang, Zhihua Wang, Ph.D., and Kamil E. Kaloush, Ph.D., P.E., of the ASU National Center of Excellence for SMART Innovations suggests that the current design of most pavements out there simply relies too much on reflectivity to decrease the heat island effect. In addition, it overlooks the intricacies of urban geography and how ground level reflections interact with pedestrians, vehicles, and the surrounding environment.And, as we live through some of the hottest years in modern history due to global warming and climate change, it’s vital that our cities are equipped to remain livable from mild May to sweltering August.
"Unfortunately, efforts to promote reflective pavements have moved more quickly than the scientific and engineering research. As this report indicates, reflective pavements may cool a pavement’s surface but there can also be negative environmental and social impacts on the areas adjacent to the pavement," said Heather Dylla, Ph.D., Director of Sustainable Engineering for the National Asphalt Association.
Source: http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/46780
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