Assessing Reflective Pavements Through a Multilayered Approach: Lessons from a Pilot Study in Austin, Texas

The urban heat island (UHI) effect arises when urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to the prevalence of man-made materials. These surfaces modify the surface energy balance, leading to a net heat gain in cities. This increase in urban temperatures can have a range of consequences, such as greater risks of heat-related fatalities. In response, many cities have sought strategies to mitigate extreme heat. One solution is the application of reflective pavements, which enhance surface albedo to redirect more incoming solar radiation away from the ground. While most studies on reflective pavements have been conducted in controlled settings a few pilot programs have been emerging to assess this strategy in the field. 

This presentation outlines a multifaceted evaluation of a reflective pavement pilot project in Austin, Texas. In June 2024, the City of Austin installed 6.4 lane miles of reflective pavement in a southeast Austin neighborhood. To assess its effectiveness, in situ air temperature sensors were deployed for continuous monitoring in both the treated neighborhood and a nearby reference neighborhood to the south. Additionally, surface temperature measurements were collected.

Beyond physical measurements, this study incorporates a novel social science approach to evaluate how these pavements influence human thermal perception. Two primary methods were used: first, a survey was distributed to residents of both the treated and reference neighborhoods to gauge their perceptions of the pavement and its impact on their daily lives. Second, a blind study was conducted in which participants unfamiliar with either neighborhood walked across different pavement surfaces and provided feedback on whether they could detect a thermal difference. This research is ongoing, with data collection and monitoring set to continue through the summer of 2025.