How "high albedo" contributes to reduction of carbon emissions from road transport

Following the release of our infographic "Concrete Pavements make roads more sustainable", EUPAVE's working group on Environmental Strategy has decided to release fact sheets focusing on its different items.

The first document looks deeper into the high albedo effect.

Wednesday 14 October 2020 from 13.00 till 18.30
Hôtel Le Châtelain, Rue du Châtelain 17, 1040 Brussels

Various topics will be discussed over the day starting with Concrete Pavement Preservation Strategies and Road Condition Assessment, continuing with different Repair Techniques for concrete slabs and CRCP. Finally some innovative developments in concrete preservation will be presented:  the use of self-healing concrete and multi-crystalline technologies..

Register by sending an e-mail to Elise Carabédian, e.carabedian@eupave.eu by Wednesday 7 October 2020.

The workshop will also be available online.

This publication provides a general overview of the basic principles of JPCPs, as well as an assessment of the influence of the aforementioned factors. In addition to many useful recommendations for the design and construction, this document does not fail to deal with different aspects such as thermal movements, different types of joints and reinforcements. Finally, this publication also contains a guide for the design of  joint layouts according to the rules of art.

Wim Kramer, Technical Advisor at the Dutch ‘Betonhuis’ (Concrete House) and Chairman of EUPAVE’s working group on Best Practices, has retired since the 1st of June 2020.  Wim has been active for almost 35 years in the Dutch cement association and 13 years in EUPAVE.  In the article below, Wim gives his viewpoint on the use of concrete in transport infrastructure in the Netherlands. After highlighting a wide range of applications, he appeals for a long term approach, in which concrete pavements are fully appreciated.

We take this opportunity to thank Wim for his great support all these years and wish him a good retirement!  We also welcome Mr. Jeroen de Vrieze, who will take over Mr. Kramer’s commitments within the Dutch “Betonhuis” and  EUPAVE.

On 19 May 2020, EUPAVE held a webinar with theme “Current U.S. practices for successful design and construction of concrete overlays”. Dr. Mark Snyder, Pavement Engineering and Research Consultant, was invited to give a presentation based on his wide experience and several publications he wrote on the topic.

News from the International Society for Concrete Pavements:

The Australian Society for Concrete Pavements (ASCP) National Executive completed a six-month endeavor, developing the first of its industry briefing notes—Pavement Note 001 “Concrete Pavement Value: Economic, Operational and Community Benefits” which touts that CONCRETE PAVEMENTS SURPASS FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS IN ALL ASPECTS. Pavement Note 001 presents facts clearly and concisely, supports distinctive references as well as smart graphics.

Efficient engines are only part of the story when it comes to getting more vehicle miles per gallon. How tires interact with pavement can make a big difference. Researchers at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub have identified three main factors that can increase rolling resistance: roughness, texture and deflection. The most recent advancement in concrete pavement surface technology is the Next Generation Concrete Surface, or NGCS. NGCS was developed to meet the increasing demands of today’s driving public, as well as those living in the vicinity of dense roadway traffic. It is a cost-effective, super-smooth concrete surface with low-noise characteristics, making it an ideal sustainable solution for urban interstates, arterials and residential areas where resource conservation, safety and comfort are of concern.