Experimental investigation into the thermal behavior of wearing courses for road pavements due to environmental conditions

• Both air temperature and solar irradiance greatly affect road pavement temperatures.
• Air humidity and wind have no significant effects on road pavement temperatures.
• Heat transfer increases passing form light to dark colored pavement surfaces.
• Dark colored pavements are greatly affect by solar irradiance.

This paper reports the results of an investigation focusing on the evaluation of the effects of environmental conditions on five materials currently used in Europe for wearing courses for urban road pavements. The investigation lasted one year and was carried out on paving slabs. Environmental conditions and pavement temperatures at two depths from the surface were measured, analyzing the effects of air temperature on pavements throughout the whole period of observation and during the hottest and coldest days. The study shows the potential of lighter colored pavements used in urban areas to mitigate the Urban Heat Island phenomenon.