Coffee Time Challenge with Team PPi and Eureka! (AUG/SEPT)
In what has been a distinctly wet summer, we’ve all had to deal with wet pavements and roadways more than we’d like.
However, the increased incidence of flooding means that we may need to look at new ways of paving our streets that will allow them to cope.
Concrete is the widely used pavement material, but it is both a significant contributor to carbon emissions, through cement production, and is impermeable, leading to urban flooding. Flooding currently costs the UK £2.2 billion annually and this is projected to increase to £27 billion by 2080, without significant flood resilient infrastructure investment.
Permeable pavements, on the other hand, rapidly drain storm water, providing a solution to urban flooding.
In addition, permeability would mean puddle-free surfaces; greater safety and skid resistance and more opportunities for water reuse and groundwater recharge.
The Challenge:
Prepare yourselves for this months challenge!
We are tasking everyone in this issue to do their best to design a new paving material.
The material should not only be robust and safe but also overcome the limitations of current materials on the market.
Many existing materials fall short due to inadequate strength, durability and long-term permeability, leading to frequent maintenance and other long term issues.
With this information in mind, can you create a paving material that revolutionizes the industry? The future of urban development could be in your imagination!
