Coupled pavement-urban canyon model for assessing cool pavements

Sushobhan Sen, Jeffery Roesler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

One of the primary causes of the urban heat island (UHI) effect is the use of construction materials that absorb and store more heat than natural vegetation. Additional heating and temperature rise occurs because of the coupling between man-made surfaces and the air in urban areas. A coupled pavement-urban canyon model has been developed and applied to a hypothetical urban domain with 12 urban canyons in order to quantify the microscale UHI intensity for the statistically warmest hour of the year in Chicago, USA. The control pavement with low albedo and diffusivity had a microscale UHI intensity of 4.2-5.1°C as compared to the mesoscale intensity of 4°C. When the control pavement was replaced by a cool pavement of higher albedo and diffusivity, the microscale UHI intensity decreased in all the canyons to 4.0-4.4°C as compared to the control. The decrease in UHI magnitude ranged from 0.1-0.7°C with an average decrease of 0.4°C.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAirfield and Highway Pavements 2019
Subtitle of host publicationInnovation and Sustainability in Highway and Airfield Pavement Technology - Selected Papers from the International Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference 2019
EditorsImad L. Al-Qadi, Hasan Ozer, Andreas Loizos, Scott Murrell
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
Pages207-215
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9780784482476
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
EventInternational Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference 2019: Innovation and Sustainability in Highway and Airfield Pavement Technology - Chicago, United States
Duration: Jul 21 2019Jul 24 2019

Publication series

NameAirfield and Highway Pavements 2019: Innovation and Sustainability in Highway and Airfield Pavement Technology - Selected Papers from the International Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference 2019

Conference

ConferenceInternational Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference 2019: Innovation and Sustainability in Highway and Airfield Pavement Technology
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChicago
Period7/21/197/24/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Coupled pavement-urban canyon model for assessing cool pavements'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this