The evaluation of new barrier systems for Pervious Pavement Systems (PPS) to control flooding and urban pollution

Adverse weather conditions and the disruption of the natural water cycle in cities due to surface waterproofing by urbanisation activities have aggravated existing flooding problems and have deteriorated water quality. The need for new drainage systems with the capacity to provide extra storage to control and attenuate flooding issues has arisen. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) have been widely used in urban areas across the world to control storm water (peak flow and volume) and improve water quality. PPS are a well-studied and tested SuDS source control measure, serving as an alternative to impervious pavements. The ability of PPS to control stormwater at the source, treat pollutants and provide benefits such as renewable energy and water harvesting, makes them a promising sustainable approach to stormwater management. However, there is a need for further optimisation, especially in the development of fields such as material science and pollutant barrier and attenuation systems within the structure of PPS. In view of the existing situation, the overall aim of this research project is to optimise the water attenuation function of PPS and improve water quality to achieve the best stormwater management possible, with a particular focus on evaluating the performance of new barrier systems deployed in PPS.