How to Minimize the Impact of Urban Heat Islands
Many city dwellers flee to the countryside to cool off when summer’s heat hits – and for good reason. Urban areas tend to be hotter than the surrounding countryside because of the “urban heat island” effect. Urban heat islands occur in urbanized areas where vegetation and trees have been greatly reduced or eliminated and there… Read More »
Tags: Albedo, Albedo Effect, Green Infrastructure, Heat Island, Impervious Surfaces, Permeable Surfaces, Smart Growth Practices, Urban Heat Island, Vegetated Roof, Vegetation
Factors Affecting the Lifespan of Paved Roadways: Construction Materials, Temperature Extremes, and Drainage
Across the country, one-third of our highways and major streets are in poor condition, according to TRIP, a nonprofit transportation research group. Persistent potholes and recurring ruts wreak havoc with our commutes, impose financial burdens from automobile repairs, inflict significant injury, prompt contentious lawsuits, and account for roughly one-third of deaths occurring annually on American… Read More »
Tags: Asphalt Roads, Asphault vs Concrete, Concrete Roads, Potholes, Road Lifespan, Roadway Drainage, Roadway Wear and Tearm, Saw Cuts, Service Life, Substrate Composition
On the Road Again: Guardrails Serve to Protect, Deflect
By Mark Petersen, PE The No. 1 goal of every driver is to stay on the road. But sometimes, due to circumstances beyond our control (and some that are in our control), vehicles can go astray. Thanks to guardrails, many potentially tragic crashes instead result in just the inconvenience of a fender bender and insurance… Read More »
Tags: End Terminal, Guardrail, Guardrail face, Guardrail Placement, MGS Guardrails, Midwest Guardrail System, Roadside Obstacles, Safety Barriers