Could a bio-resin and transparent pavement improve the urban environment? An in field thermo-optical investigation and life-cycle assessment

Pavements affect the urban microclimate and overall quality of outdoor environment. Cool pavements, in particular, can guarantee lower surface temperature than conventional ones, e.g. asphalt concrete. These solutions often comprise reflective coatings placed above existing pavements or more complex configurations, i.e. evaporative heat harvesting solutions. This study investigates in-field thermo-optical profiles cool paving systems made with a novel modified epoxy resin binder. Unlike classic binders, presented binder is transparent and, when combined proper aggregate minimizes its contribution to local overheating phenomena. The two fields herein were found maintain up 9.2 °C 6.4 during daytime 8.4 4.6 nighttime as compared concrete fields, respectively. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment showed that binders may also decrease pavements’ footprint on human health ecosystems, while application CO2 off-set model their good potentiality corresponding emissions. unlike typical applications are an integral part pavement, ready be integrated real applications.