Review of the development and research of permeable pavements

Abstract

Permeable pavements, which not only increase rainwater infiltration and purify surface runoff water but also absorb noise and promote evaporative cooling, are an effective measure for alleviating urban flooding and the heat island effect. Moreover, permeable pavements have significant implications for the urban hydrological cycle and for human development that promotes ecosystem health. This paper reviews the development history of permeable pavements, evaluates the technical aspects and benefits thereof in the context of green city construction, and analyzes existing issues in the development of permeable pavements. This paper mainly discusses the current classifications of permeable pavements, the indicators used to evaluate permeable pavements, and construction techniques with a focus on two aspects: improving strength and removing blockages for planning, and three aspects: enhancing permeability, recycling resources, and preventing pollution for ecohydrological effects. Further, this paper discusses the benefits of permeable pavements and the commonly used methods for evaluating benefits. The main problems in the development and construction of permeable pavements include the limitations of permeable pavements, difficulty in evaluating their benefits, and restrictions on their applications. The following recommendations are proposed: improve the evaluation mechanism for permeable pavements, establish appropriate guidance for construction, scientifically and quantitatively analyse the feasibility of permeable pavement construction, evaluate the rationality of permeable pavement construction in various regions, and encourage the construction of permeable pavements in suitable areas. The importance of developing standards and technical specifications is also emphasized.