Researchers Test Pavement Heating to Reduce Road Salt Use in New York
What happened
Researchers from Stony Brook University, Columbia University, and Cornell University tested a pavement heating system in a freeze chamber. The system involved burying loops of warm fluid in the gravel base layer under the asphalt. The team found that while the loops kept the surface ice-free, a considerable share of the heat leaked downward.
From indiatimes.com
Why it matters
New York currently spends about $1.6 billion annually on roadway deicing, a process that also raises chloride levels in freshwater streams. This new technology offers a potential environmentally friendly and less costly alternative to traditional salt use for road maintenance.
From indiatimes.com
Who's involved
- Columbia UniversityCollaborated on the research study regarding pavement heating.
- Stony Brook UniversityConducted the research study on pavement heating.
- Cornell UniversityCollaborated on the research study regarding pavement heating.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- New YorkSpeculative
New York might shift away from costly salt deicing methods, potentially lowering road maintenance costs.
- City of New YorkSpeculative
The City of New York may reduce its $1.6 billion annual roadway deicing costs through implementation.
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The entities involved
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Columbia University
private university in New York City, New York, US
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Stony Brook University
public university in Stony Brook, New York, United States
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Cornell University
private and statutory land-grant research university in Ithaca, New York, USA