Comparison of different types of pedestrian paving materials

Abstract

The need for selecting correct material for the pedestrian paving is greater than ever before. Due to increasing number of pavements constructed in urban areas the climate conditions of cities are changing into unfriendly levels. With the escalation of prices of the conventional paving materials (asphalt, concrete) and sustainability concepts designers are on the verge of using alternative materials for the road construction which brings sustainable and eco-friendly, more energy efficient living conditions. In this research different types of paving materials are compared through a questionnaire survey, thermal performance test and a cost comparison. The results of the study indicate that the use of clay paving block pavement is more suitable than the conventional pedestrian paving methods. The low cost, the ability of accommodating and maintaining utility services, thermal comfort, aesthetic appearance and environmentally friendly behavior and user satisfaction can be highlighted as the key advantages of clay paving blocks.