A growing problem in architecture/Urban planning is overpaving. Runoff tests the limits of city water systems (often flooding sewers), floods towns, holds high maintanence, and causes local water table problems. Much of the new pavement being laid down is for 1) parking lots, 2) low-speed roads in & between commercial strip malls, 3) driveways and low-traffic residential roads. All of these areas are places that do not require traditional paving. In the old West (and still today in some places), a low-cost low-maitenence form of road is simply to put brick sherd on dirt. Water still sinks in (at least better than pavement), and it is still a fair road for low speeds & parking. Other materials could be used for limited absorption paving, such as stone and some recycled materials. Keep parking lots on slight slopes for some remaining runoff issues and sidewalks, though. Also, simply adding more material is easier for potholes & road repair. It just seems to be the common man's solution to the problem.
Yes, some components of this idea are baked (gravel is used in some areas for varying reasons, recycled materials do exist in pavement), but the concept is not generally accepted for the traditional parking lot or road.-- imagine002, Mar 26 2004 (?) Absorbent Road http://www.halfbake...ea/Absorbent_20RoadDrCurry's idea that he forgot about, pretty redundant [krelnik, Oct 04 2004] Permeable pavement http://www.toolbase...323&DocumentID=2160"New permeable pavement systems allow water to seep through the roadway surface..." [bristolz, Oct 04 2004] Steel mill slag is a good material for this, we already use it for roads. It contains a little burnt lime (which becomes limestone after absorbing CO2 from the air), and larger quantities of FeO, SiO2, MgO etc. Once compacted it is quite reasonable to maintain, but a little dusty.-- Ling, Mar 26 2004 Sp: absorptive.-- kropotkin, Mar 26 2004 I keep meaning to post an idea for "wicking roads", that would wick away surface water to prevent the spray that modern tires throw off even in the lightest rains. So croissant from me!-- DrCurry, Mar 26 2004 Geez, Doc, your memory is going. You DID post that idea, and we pointed out that it is baked. See link.
There are a number of companies that make paving materials that are specifically designed to create parking lots and driveways that allow water to pass through to the ground, and yet have a smoother and more stable surface than conventional gravel. (See links within Doc's idea).-- krelnik, Mar 26 2004 [admin: renamed from 'Absorbtive Road Materials' to 'Absorptive Road Materials']-- st3f, Mar 26 2004 Thanks admin. Absorbtive is what you get at 3am (the optimum time for halfbaking)-- imagine002, Mar 26 2004 random, halfbakery