FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE CITIES BY MEANS OF LOW-CARBON, LOW-NOISE AND LOW-TEMPERATURE URBAN ROADS
PID2022-137781OB-I00
Funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU
Cities are highly vulnerable to climate change, especially to extreme events like heatwaves, which are exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. This phenomenon and noise pollution, caused by anthropogenic actions, pose serious threats to urban health and well-being.
The Low3Road project proposes multifunctional and intelligent pavement surfaces to mitigate these issues. Additionally, it aims to contribute to the EU's zero emissions goal by developing innovative and low-carbon materials, particularly in construction, aligning with EU policies and directives such as the Green Deal, the Climate Law, and the Environmental Noise Directive.
After an initial review, the bio-binder will be selected based on laboratory tests. Subsequently, the mechanical performance of the new bio-asphalt will be optimized by adjusting the dosage of the bio-binder and the gradation and composition of the mixture.
This objective includes the pre-selection of PCMs and encapsulation and/or shape stabilization methods, the final selection based on laboratory tests, and the optimal design of a new cold asphalt mixture.
The addition of bio-asphalts to a low-noise design may affect the texture or the void structure of the mixture, thereby impacting its noise reduction capacity.
The effect of PCMs on bio-asphalt may differ from their effect on conventional asphalt mixtures, and the mixture design will need adjustments. The amount of bio-binder and PCM will be optimized to ensure a synergistic effect, resulting in improved thermal and mechanical performance.
A new asphalt mixture will be designed by applying the knowledge acquired throughout this project. This multifunctional urban mixture will be optimized to reduce noise emissions, include PCMs, and replace a percentage of petroleum-derived bitumen with a bio-binder.
The environmental impacts of the different technologies (low noise, bio-asphalts, and PCMs) will be assessed through a Life Cycle Assessment. Similarly, a cost-benefit analysis will be conducted to help determine the benefits provided to potential users of these technologies.
Collaboration with research groups, national and international public administrations, and European companies will maximize the transfer of the knowledge achieved.
Download the second newsletter from the LOW3ROAD project.
TheLOW3ROAD project participated in the European Researchers’ Night, a science outreach initiative that brings research and innovation closer to society through activities, demonstrations and workshops. During the event, the team presented the project's objectives and explained how the development of new materials and technologies can contribute to creating more sustainable, liveable and climate-resilient cities.
The LOW3ROAD project participated in IC2 with the presentation “Asphalt pavements with phase change materials (PCM): an innovative solution for mitigating the urban heat island effect”. The presentation provided an opportunity to share the project's advances in the development of more sustainable asphalt pavements adapted to urban climate challenges, highlighting the potential of PCMs to improve the thermal performance of pavements.
Download the first newsletter from the LOW3ROAD project.
The LOW3ROADproject participated in the 12th European Researchers’ Night, held in Santander on 27 September 2024. The event provided an opportunity to bring the project’s research closer to the public and to explain, in an engaging and accessible way, how research into new materials can contribute to the development of more sustainable pavements adapted to the challenges of climate change. LOW3ROAD’s participation was part of this European initiative, which brings researchers and society together each year to share science and knowledge.
GITECO manufactures the first samples of a solid-solid PCM, which includes polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyacrylamide (PAM) as the main components. The thermal characteristics of this material will be analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
GITECO completed the selection of a commercial PCM based on the review of different products from companies that supply these chemical compounds.
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