Porous Pavements (Integrative Studies in Water Management and Land Development) Book

Pavements are the most ubiquitous of all man-made structures, and they have an enormous impact on environmental quality. They are responsible for hydrocarbon pollutants, excess runoff, groundwater decline and the resulting local water shortages, temperature increases in the urban "heat island," and for the ability of trees to extend their roots in order to live. Porous pavements, despite their ability to mitigate these factors, remain the object of much skepticism and controversy. Written by a renowned expert with 25 years of experience in urban watershed management, Porous Pavements is the first comprehensive "encyclopedia" of porous pavement materials. The book begins with five chapters that lay a foundation for all porous pavement materials and applications, introducing the types of materials and arrangements, their roles in the urban environment, and the principles of pavement structure, hydrology, and rooting space. The following nine chapters outline the costs, maintenance requirements, advantages and disadvantages for different applications, installation methods, sources of standard specifications, and performance levels for each family of porous pavement materials. Relying on case studies and factual data from observed experience, and containing abundant references for further information, Porous Pavements gives responsible practitioners a complete toolbox from which to select the appropriate material for site-specific conditions, providing a "green" alternative to impervious pavements. --------------------Features--------------------- ·Provides practical expertise and a theoretical basis for site-specific selection and application ·Covers all nine families of porous pavement materials in a single reference: porous aggregate, porous turf, plastic geocells, open-jointed blocks, open-celled grids, porous concrete, porous asphalt, "soft" pavement materials, and decks ·Complements basic training in site design, site drainage, construction materials, and horticulture with the special concepts involving porous pavement materials ·Includes 310 construction diagrams, photographs, and performance charts ·Offers the tools necessary for appropriate, informed, beneficial, and successful application of porous pavementsRead More