Summary Reader Response Final Draft: Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road

In the article “Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road”, PaveGreen (n.d.) believes that porous asphalt is “road royalty” as it improves safety, reduces erosion, and mitigates water pollution, all while giving back to the earth. Porous asphalt roads prove to be a sustainable method in reducing pollution due to its natural filtration ability. One of the best applications is found in stormwater management. It can be used on superhighways where it enhances the safety of the road users, especially during winter climates. There is a reduction in the need for deicing and anti-icing practices that contain harmful agents that can be detrimental to the environment and quality of water. It is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly as compared to its conventional counterpart. It is agreeable that porous asphalt is a premium material for surfaces as all the benefits mentioned are non-debatable. However, I disagree that porous asphalt is the best for roads as claimed. There are several factors that the article has failed to consider. 

In my opinion, porous asphalt’s forte in its application, which is natural filtration, may be the reason why it is not the best material for pavements. Prolonged exposure to water and debris suggests a need for higher maintenance. TrueGrid (2020) shares that it is ingenious with the use of porous asphalt to absorb water but in truth, “this porosity and ability to absorb water is very short-lived and super expensive”. Its permeable characteristic allows water to seep through small pores in the pavement. As a result, pollutants get trapped inside and clogging occurs. Porous asphalt becomes susceptible to the freeze and thaw cycles in cold climates, leading to failure. It is necessary for all pavements to undergo periodic maintenance, but permeable pavements require more frequent and routine upkeep. Furthermore, simple broom sweepers are not enough to maintain porous asphalt. Instead, vacuums with a blower system are recommended. For instances where the pavement becomes significantly clogged, a more intensive level of treatment is needed.  Pressure water cleaning is implemented. However, the pressure can neither be too low nor high, as “contaminants may be driven further into the porous surface” (SanDiegoCounty, n.d.).

Another pertinent point is the limit to the application of porous asphalt. Stiffler (2012) compares permeable pavements to “rice crispy roadways” and questions how can its “pervious nature take a pounding from countless cars, trucks, and buses and survive intact”. Its high porosity causes it to exhibit poor durability and strength, limiting its use in pavement applications. Stiffler (2012) also shares that this material is restricted for lower traffic areas, such as car-parks, and is not a good fit for commercial areas where there is heavy traffic. However, flooding occurs mostly in areas where there is dense traffic, and what is the good in porous asphalt’s permeability if it is of no use to such areas? Porous asphalt is also vulnerable to soil with high levels of sulfate in them as it causes degradation to its permeable surface. Installers must be extra cautious to ensure that this would not cause any issues in the future (TrueGridPaver, 2020).  

Finally, porous asphalt has a shorter lifespan. The average life cycle of porous asphalt is assumed to be 20 years, as compared to traditional pavements where it can last up to about 25 years. As observed by Chen, Wang, and Najm (2017), “if the lifespan of porous asphalt pavement is shorter than porous concrete pavement, the environmental benefits of using porous asphalt will be offset by the need for more frequent reconstruction activities.” This implies that the short lifespan causes frequent maintenance, which incurs high economical damage, as opposed to it being cost-effective as mentioned by PaveGreen.

All in all, PaveGreen did educate adequately on the positive aspects of this unconventional pavement but I feel that they should also cover the other side of the coin to provide a broader perspective regarding porous asphalt. 

648 Words

Reference:

Chen X.D., Wang H., & Najm H. (2018). Environmental Assessment and Economic Analysis of Porous Pavement at Sidewalk. Lcasymposium. https://lcasymposium.ict.illinois.edu/files/2018/01/52_Porous-pavement-conference-paper-2017.1.27-submit.pdf

PaveGreen. (n.d.). Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road. Retrieved from http://www.pavegreen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:king-of-the-road&catid=35:porous-asphalt&Itemid=110

SanDiegoCounty. (n.d.). Porous Pavement Operation and Maintenance Protocol. Retrieved from https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/reusable_components/images/dgs/Documents/Grants_Prop40_AppendIII_.pdf

Stiffler, L. (2012). The Porous Road Less Traveled. Sightline Institute. Retrieved from https://www.sightline.org/2012/01/03/the-porous-road-less-traveled/

TrueGridPaver. (2020). Porous Asphalt and Concrete Pose Big Problems. Retrieved from https://www.truegridpaver.com/porous-asphalt-and-concrete/

Summary Reader Response Draft 2: Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road

 In the article “Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road”, PaveGreen (n.d.) believes that porous asphalt is “road royalty” as it improves safety, reduces erosion, and mitigates water pollution, all while giving back to the earth. Porous asphalt roads prove to be a sustainable method in reducing pollution due to its natural filtration ability. One of the best applications is found in stormwater management. It can be used on superhighways where it enhances the safety of the road users, especially during winter climates. There is a reduction in the need for deicing and anti-icing practices that contain harmful agents that can be detrimental to the environment and quality of water. It is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly as compared to its conventional counterpart. It is agreeable that porous asphalt is a premium material for surfaces as all the benefits mentioned are non-debatable. However, there are several factors that the article has failed to consider. I disagree that porous asphalt is the best for roads as acclaimed.

In my opinion, porous asphalt’s forte in its application, which is natural filtration, may be the reason why it is not the best material for pavements. Prolong exposure to water and debris suggests a need for higher maintenance. TrueGrid (n.d.) shares that it is ingenious with the use of porous asphalt to absorb water but in truth, “this porosity and ability to absorb water is very short-lived and super expensive”. Its permeable characteristic allows water to seep through small pores in the pavement. As a result, pollutants get trapped inside and clogging occurs. Porous asphalt becomes susceptible to the freeze and thaw cycles in cold climates, leading to failure. It is necessary for all pavements to undergo periodic maintenance, but permeable pavements require more frequent and routine upkeep. Furthermore, simple broom sweepers are not enough to maintain porous asphalt. Instead, vacuums with a blower system are recommended. For instances where the pavement becomes significantly clogged, a more intensive level of treatment is needed.  Pressure water cleaning is implemented. However, the pressure can neither be too low nor high, as “contaminants may be driven further into the porous surface.” SanDiegoCounty (n.d.).

Another pertinent point is the limit to the application of porous asphalt. Stiffler (2012) compares permeable pavements to “rice crispy roadways” and questions how can its “pervious nature take a pounding from countless cars, trucks, and buses and survive intact”. Its high porosity causes it to exhibit poor durability and strength, limiting its use in pavement applications. Stiffler (2012) also shares that this material is restricted for lower traffic areas, such as car-parks, and is not a good fit for commercial areas where there is heavy traffic. However, flooding occurs mostly in areas where there is dense traffic, and what is the good in porous asphalt’s permeability if it is of no use to such areas? Porous asphalt is also vulnerable to soil with high levels of sulfate in them as it causes degradation to its permeable surface. Installers must be extra cautious to ensure that this would not cause any issues in the future (TrueGridPaver, n.d.).  

Finally, porous asphalt has a shorter lifespan. The average life cycle of porous asphalt is assumed to be 20 years, as compared to traditional pavements where it can last up to about 25 years. As observed by Chen, Wang, and Najm (2017), “if the lifespan of porous asphalt pavement is shorter than porous concrete pavement, the environmental benefits of using porous asphalt will be offset by the need for more frequent reconstruction activities.” This implies that the short lifespan causes frequent maintenance, which incurs high economical damage, as opposed to it being cost-effective as mentioned by PaveGreen.

All in all, PaveGreen did educate adequately on the positive aspects of this unconventional pavement but I feel that they should have reiterated on the other side of the coin to provide a broader perspective regarding porous asphalt. 

Word Count: 648

Reference:

1. Chen X.D., Wang H., & Najm H. (2018). Environmental Assessment and Economic Analysis of Porous Pavement at Sidewalk. Lcasymposium. https://lcasymposium.ict.illinois.edu/files/2018/01/52_Porous-pavement-conference-paper-2017.1.27-submit.pdf

2. PaveGreen. (n.d.). Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road. Retrieved from http://www.pavegreen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:king-of-the-road&catid=35:porous-asphalt&Itemid=110

3. SanDiegoCounty. (n.d.). Porous Pavement Operation and Maintenance Protocol. Retrieved from https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/reusable_components/images/dgs/Documents/Grants_Prop40_AppendIII_.pdf

4. Stiffler, L. (2012). The Porous Road Less Traveled. Sightline Institute. Retrieved from https://www.sightline.org/2012/01/03/the-porous-road-less-traveled/

5. TrueGridPaver. (2020). Porous Asphalt and Concrete Pose Big Problems. Retrieved from https://www.truegridpaver.com/porous-asphalt-and-concrete/

Summary Reader Response Draft 1: Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road

In the article “Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road”, PaveGreen (n.d.) believes that porous asphalt is “road royalty” as it improves safety, reduces erosion, and mitigates water pollution, all while giving back to the earth. Porous asphalt roads prove to be a sustainable method in reducing pollution due to its natural filtration ability. One of the best applications is found in stormwater management. It can be used on superhighways where it enhances the safety of the road users, especially during winter climates. There is a reduction in the need for deicing and anti-icing practices that contain harmful agents that can be detrimental to the environment and quality of water. It is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly as compared to its conventional counterpart. It is agreeable that porous asphalt is a premium material for surfaces as all the benefits mentioned are non-debatable. However, there are several factors that the article has failed to consider. Porous asphalt's high porosity requires high maintenance. It also has a limit to its application, as well as a short lifespan.

In my opinion, porous asphalt’s forte in its application, which is natural filtration, may be the reason why it is not the best material for pavements. Prolong exposure to water and debris suggests a need for higher maintenance. TrueGrid (n.d.) shares that it is ingenious with the use of porous asphalt to absorb water but in truth, “this porosity and ability to absorb water is very short-lived and super expensive”. Its permeable characteristic allows water to seep through small pores in the pavement. As a result, pollutants get trapped inside and clogging occurs. Porous asphalt becomes susceptible to the freeze and thaw cycles in cold climates, leading to failure. It is necessary for all pavements to undergo periodic maintenance, but permeable pavements require more frequent and routine upkeep. Furthermore, simple broom sweepers are not enough to maintain porous asphalt. Instead, vacuums with a blower system are recommended. For instances where the pavement becomes significantly clogged, a more intensive level of treatment is needed.  Pressure water cleaning is implemented. However, the pressure can neither be too low nor high, as “contaminants may be driven further into the porous surface.” SanDiegoCounty (n.d.).

Another pertinent point is the limit to the application of porous asphalt. Stiffler (2012) compares permeable pavements to “rice crispy roadways” and questions how can its “pervious nature take a pounding from countless cars, trucks, and buses and survive intact”. Its high porosity causes it to exhibit poor durability and strength, limiting its use in pavement applications. Stiffler also shares that this material is restricted for lower traffic areas, such as car-parks, and is not a good fit for commercial areas where there is heavy traffic. However, flooding occurs mostly in areas where there is dense traffic, and what is the good in porous asphalt’s permeability if it is of no use to such areas? Porous asphalt is also vulnerable to soil with high levels of sulfate in them as it causes degradation to its permeable surface. Installers must be extra cautious to ensure that this would not cause any issues in the future (TrueGridPaver, n.d.).  

Finally, porous asphalt has a shorter lifespan. The average life cycle of porous asphalt is assumed to be 20 years, as compared to traditional pavements where it can last up to about 25 years. As observed by Chen, Wang, and Najm (2017), “if the lifespan of porous asphalt pavement is shorter than porous concrete pavement, the environmental benefits of using porous asphalt will be offset by the need for more frequent reconstruction activities.” This implies that the short lifespan causes frequent maintenance, which incurs high economical damage, as opposed to it being cost-effective as mentioned by PaveGreen.

All in all, PaveGreen did educate adequately on the positive aspects of this unconventional pavement but should have reiterated on the other side of the coin to provide a broader perspective regarding porous asphalt. 

Word Count: 644

Reference:

1. PaveGreen. (n.d.). Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road. Retrieved 29 September 2020. From http://www.pavegreen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:king-of-the-road&catid=35:porous-asphalt&Itemid=110

2. (2020). Porous Asphalt and Concrete Pose Big Problems. TrueGridPaver. Retrieved 6 October 2020, from https://www.truegridpaver.com/porous-asphalt-and-concrete/

3. (n.d.). Porous Pavement Operation and Maintenance Protocol. SanDiegoCounty. Retrieved 9 October 2020, from https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/reusable_components/images/dgs/Documents/Grants_Prop40_AppendIII_.pdf

4. Stiffler, L. (2012). The Porous Road Less Traveled. Sightline Institute. Retrieved 9 October 2020, from https://www.sightline.org/2012/01/03/the-porous-road-less-traveled/

5. Chen X.D., Wang H., Najm H. (2018). Environmental Assessment and Economic Analysis of Porous Pavement at Sidewalk. Lcasymposium. Retrieved 9 October 2020, from https://lcasymposium.ict.illinois.edu/files/2018/01/52_Porous-pavement-conference-paper-2017.1.27-submit.pdf

Article summary: Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road

 In the article “Porous Asphalt is King of the Road”, Pave Green (n.d.) believes that porous asphalt is “King of the Road”, as it improves safety, reduces erosion, and mitigates water pollution while giving back to the earth making it “road royalty”. Porous asphalt roads prove to be a sustainable method in reducing pollution due to its natural filtration ability. One of the best applications is found in stormwater management. It can be used on superhighways where it enhances the safety of the road users, especially during winter climates. There is a reduction in the need for deicing and anti-icing practices that contain harmful agents that can be detrimental to the environment and quality of water. It is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly as compared to its conventional counterpart.

PaveGreen. (n.d.) Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road. Retrieved 29 September 2020. From http://www.pavegreen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:king-of-the-road&catid=35:porous-asphalt&Itemid=110

Assignment 1: Formal Letter

Subject: Self-introduction email

Dear Professor Blackstone,

My name is Valencia Tan and I am currently a year 1 student studying sustainable infrastructure engineering (SIE) in the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). Unlike the majority of my schoolmates, I do not have an engineering background. Instead, I was learning about hotel and leisure facilities management in Singapore Polytechnic in the early stages of my tertiary education.

Many asked what made me pursue a different course in life, which is a question I frequently ask myself too.  I believe that interest sparked during the last semester of the polytechnic, where I had to take a module about building services. It made me understood how facilities management played a key role in fuelling a user’s experience and it is not only about the frontline services.

My daily life is heavily influenced by the arts as I enjoy painting in my free time as well as a little bit of photography—nothing too serious, just a snap here and there. Photography played a part in my decision to further develop a deeper understanding of building infrastructures as well. I am unknowingly drawn to taking pictures of buildings and infrastructures rather than portraits, as seen from most of the photos that make up my album.

One of my greatest strengths is that I am adaptive in my style of communication. I can read the settings well and change accordingly. This means that I participate and listen attentively when needed. For example, I actively participate in group discussions and class activities. One weakness is that I am not able to articulate my thoughts as well as how I want it to be.  I often find it difficult to replace my thoughts with the right words and convey it through speaking or writing, which is what I would like to improve on under your guidance. Another goal is to not lose touch with my language and creative skills as there will be lesser leisure time when school starts to pick up its pace.

I am sure that I would enjoy the rest of the module just as how I am enjoying myself so far. I am looking forward to learning more from you too!

Warmest regards,

Tan Jing Wen Valencia

Revised: 30 October 2020

Task 3: The Importance of communication skills for engineers

Gilbert Amelio, President, and CEO of National Semiconductor Corp once said, "Developing excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others. If a leader can't get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn't even matter.".

I agree with this saying wholeheartedly. Good communication skills are essential to deliver and understand information quickly and clearly. This involves verbal as well as written communication skills. A leader must encompass the ability to guide and influence others, which is why communication skill is an extremely critical trait. In the event where there is a break down in communication, misunderstanding arises. This causes loss of trust in the leader and the dynamics of the group to be affected, thus leading to a decrease in productivity.