Permeable Pavement
Students investigate how different riparian ground covers, such as grass or pavement, affect river flooding. They learn about permeable and impermeable materials through the measurement how much water is absorbed by several different household materials in a model river. Students use what they learn to make recommendations for engineers developing permeable pavement. Also, they consider several different limitations for design in the context of a small community.
Students use a model river to test the permeability of several different common materialsCopyright State of Missouri http://www.mo.gov/mo/mophotos/lakes/LA_MorningontheCurrentRiver_McDaniel_102606.jpg
Engineers design buildings, roads and paved areas for people to use in cities. Sometimes the pavement affects the natural ecosystem of the area. For example, a city with a lot of impermeable surface area (pavement) can be more prone to flooding than one with permeable and semi-permeable surfaces (grassy areas, parks). Engineers continue to improve pavement materials for the safety of people and the environment and are now developing semi-permeable and permeable pavement that are both aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how the type of riparian area next to a river affects the river.
- Use a model river to test the permeability of several different common materials.
- List several things engineers consider when deciding what type of materials to use for pavement.