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. 2021 Dec 12;18(24):13108.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182413108.

Effect of Sampietrini Pavers on Urban Heat Islands

Laura Moretti  1 , Giuseppe Cantisani  1 , Marco Carpiceci  2 , Antonio D'Andrea  1 , Giulia Del Serrone  1 , Paola Di Mascio  1 , Giuseppe Loprencipe  1
Affiliations

Effect of Sampietrini Pavers on Urban Heat Islands

Laura Moretti et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Cool pavements are reflective and/or permeable pavements that improve microclimate of urban areas where heat islands cause discomfort to citizens. Stone pavements lower surface temperatures and reduce the amount of heat absorbed. This study assessed, using ENVI-met 4.3 LITE software, how air temperature and predicted mean vote depend on physical properties of the road pavement. A comparative microclimatic analysis was implemented on a rectangular square in Rome (Italy) in the summer, paved in three different ways: asphalt, traditional sampietrini, and permeable sampietrini. The model considered local weather parameters, surrounding fabric, and vegetation to give reliable results in terms of numerical and graphical output using the application tool Leonardo. The tested pavement types affected air temperature during the day, but did not influence this variable in the early morning. Permeable sampietrini pavement was more effective than traditional sampietrini pavement in reducing air temperature compared to the current asphalt surface. The road pavement did not, however, affect human comfort in terms of predicted mean vote. The obtained results are useful for further investigation of parameters that could modify the microclimatic conditions of urban areas.

Keywords: air temperature; albedo; cool pavements; emissivity; permeability; sampietrini; urban heat island.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 10
Figure 10
ENVI-Met model of St Peter in Chains’ square with grid and boundaries.
Figure 1
Figure 1
St Peter in Chains’ square, Rome, Italy (photo: Google maps).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cross section of a sampietrini pavement.
Figure 3
Figure 3
First phase: construction of reinforced concrete base course.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Second phase: construction of the bedding course.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Second phase: dry laying of sampietrini.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Third phase: sampietrini compaction.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Fourth phase: sampietrini installation.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Sampietrini pavement under construction.
Figure 9
Figure 9
ENVI-Met layers.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Current layout (S1).
Figure 12
Figure 12
Traditional sampietrini pavement over all the square (S2).
Figure 13
Figure 13
Permeable and traditional sampietrini pavement (S3).
Figure 14
Figure 14
PMV Scale.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Layout of the ENVI-met model.
Figure 16
Figure 16
AT output maps. (a) S1 06:00 a.m.; (b) S1 04:00 p.m.; (c) S2 06:00 a.m.; (d) S2 04:00 p.m.; (e) S3 06:00 a.m.; (f) S3 04:00 p.m.
Figure 16
Figure 16
AT output maps. (a) S1 06:00 a.m.; (b) S1 04:00 p.m.; (c) S2 06:00 a.m.; (d) S2 04:00 p.m.; (e) S3 06:00 a.m.; (f) S3 04:00 p.m.
Figure 17
Figure 17
PMV Output maps. (a) S1 06:00 a.m.; (b) S1 04:00 p.m.; (c) S2 06:00 a.m.; (d) S2 04:00 p.m.; (e) S3 06:00 a.m.; (f) S3 04:00 p.m.
Figure 17
Figure 17
PMV Output maps. (a) S1 06:00 a.m.; (b) S1 04:00 p.m.; (c) S2 06:00 a.m.; (d) S2 04:00 p.m.; (e) S3 06:00 a.m.; (f) S3 04:00 p.m.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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