Improving urban air and stormwater quality using photocatalytic highway pavement and photocatalytic pervious concrete shoulders
Abstract
Pervious concrete, photocatalytic concrete, and photocatalytic pervious concrete are emerging technologies in the pavement industry, and have been researched in order to determine the efficacy of these technologies in environmental sustainability on a wide scale. In this thesis, the effects of photocatalytically active cement on a highway were studied, along with the affects of photocatalytic pervious and conventional pervious concrete shoulders. A laboratory experimental setup was conducted simultaneously as a comparison between theoretical and practical implementations of this technology. The results of the laboratory test indicated that there was not a significant increase in nitrate, but the nitrite levels increased significantly. This could be indicative of the rolls humidity and total sunlight play in the reactivity of the photocatalytic concrete, but needs further assessment for conformation. It may also suggest the role of retention time of the water within the pervious concrete as well. The field results indicate that nitrate levels were present early on in the construction phase of the project, even prior to opening the highway to the public and to large traffic volumes. Data indicates that the base was drainable and drained quickly, despite the amount of fines within subbase. It was also determined that water had an effect on the temperature of the pavements, as heat was drawn away from the subbase during rain events. Further data needs to be collected and analyzed in order to more certainly determine effect of this technology on water quality. Further assessment need also be conducted on the use of pervious concrete as highway shoulders. This was suspected to be the first highway pavement in the world in which photocatalytically active cements were utilized for air and water quality improvements, and it is also suspected to be the first highway in which pervious concrete shoulders were used for stormwater management.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- Literature review -- Methods and instrumentation -- Laboratory simulation -- Construction -- Field results -- Construction challenges and observations -- Summary and conclusions -- Appendix A. Weir box calibration -- Appendix B. Flume data -- Appendix C. Statistical analysis of lab sample water -- Appendix D. Statistical analysis of construction water -- Appendix E. Statistical analysis of rainwater samples -- Appendix F. Drought data
Degree
M.S.