A remarkable process occurs when cement, water, aggregate, and sand—the basic ingredients of concrete—are mixed together. When first mixed, the ingredients are very malleable, but as the concrete cures, the finished product becomes harder and stronger. This process makes concrete the right choice for pavements for highways, airports, streets & roads, industrial applications, and commercial facilities.
In addition to their strength and durability, concrete pavements also offer a number of other attributes, including versatility, sustainability, reliability, resiliency, and more. For more information about the attributes of concrete pavements, please follow the links below.
Built for Sustainability – With a reputation for longevity and durability, concrete pavements have been meeting the needs of sustainable development for decades. Concrete pavements are also an excellent choice when considering the lifetime environmental impact. From mining locally-produced raw materials through construction and long-term performance, concrete stands out as the most cost-effective,
sustainable paving material.
What You See is What You Hear…Each concrete pavement surface texture shown above produces a different noise level, and at different frequency spectrums (tones).
The Consequences of Dark Pavement Surfaces....An important but often overlooked consequence of overlaying a concrete surface is an increase in pavement surface temperature and the resulting effect on the surrounding facilities. As temperatures rise, cooling demands and electrical consumption increase. This is a direct consequence of the urban heat island effect. Prior to embarking on a long term strategy of overlaying concrete surfaces with darker-colored materials, agencies should consider the long term consequences and other concerns.
Shining a Light on Pavement...Concrete is naturally brighter and more reflective than other pavement surfaces. This requires less energy to illuminate comparable areas, which is good for the environment.
You may already know that concrete pavements are longer lasting, more stable, and allow more design choices than other pavements. But did you know concrete offers important environmental advantages in every stage of manufacturing, construction, and use?
The lighter color of concrete increases the amount of light reflected from its surface (this is sometimes referred to as albedo). This will enhance both vehicle and pedestrian safety in low light situations.In fact, for the same lighting setup, the concrete pavement will be better illuminated at night than an asphalt pavement. This increased reflectivity also has the potential to significantly reduce utility costs associated with street lighting (a potential cost savings of up to 33% exists).
Long before there was a “green” movement, many people recognized the significant impact that pavement type selection can have on the environment around us.