Action C22: Infiltration of surface water through permeable coating

Activity C22 Infiltration of surface water through permeable coating will gain from action C3; C4, C6, C7 and C23.

In selected areas a detailed local model is set up focusing on groundwater, surface and/or seawater.

Models are based on the present data and collections of new data sets e.g geophysical data from C3 and further modelled under action C23 will improve understanding of the infiltration potential in urban development areas .

Under Action C4 Rainwater, C22 will gain from the identification and experience of different setup models and testing of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems within Central Denmark Region.

Under action C6, the groundwater-surface water model and screening tool is developed and tested, which may benefit C22 directly.

Action C7 will aim at gathering useful information and best practices from cross-cutting demonstration activities and urban development stakeholder processes.

C22 will benefit directly from these actions.

Linked to Complementary Actions
VIA expects to design and realise complementary projects, where there will be focus on studying how climate roads can be integrated with other SUDS solutions, so that the most integrated and robust climate change adaptation can be found. MUDP and EUDP are potential sources of financing. The amount of financing that is sought is DKK 2-4 million. Potential co-applicants may be Danish and foreign knowledge institutions (e.g. Danish Technological Institute), consultants and manufacturers.

What:
Rapid urban development, climate changes with increased and more frequent rainfall and increasing environmental consciousness have created intensive focus on the management of wastewater and surface water in Danish towns and cities. The majority of drainage infrastructure in Denmark consists of joint sewage. This solution has shown that it is not geared to the current amount of drainage volumes; where large, densely populated towns and cities are especially challenged. Financially it is also unsuitable that the utilities shall clean mixed rainwater/wastewater, because the costs of cleaning for this is increasing markedly.

Steadily increasing urban populations produce more wastewater and together with the large volumes of surface water from extreme rainfall, this creates flooding in many low-lying urban areas. The flooding typically results in damage to businesses, people’s homes and infrastructure. It is therefore necessary to carry out preventative efforts, which make the towns and cities safe from this problem. Flooding as a consequence of overloaded drainage systems is particular bad, as the water is a mix of rainwater and wastewater.

The previously used solutions to the challenges are either to renovate the existing sewer systems, establish a parallel rainwater pipe, or partially or wholly disconnect the surface water from the sewer system. SUDS are increasingly applied, however, can be difficult to apply in dense urban environments. Another challenging problem with SUDS solutions, including permeable surfacing, is how potential contamination is managed and how to ensure that the systems is operational now and in the future

In an attempt to solve these challenges VIA in collaboration with HEDKOM, will carry out a number of trials on a permeable coating testing system which we call the climate road, see example in figure 48.

The action is carried out through two overall activities:

1. Establishment of a climate road (pilot project)
2. Involvement of politicians and other stakeholders

Throughout the two actions, the related researchers will attend both national and international conferences. This is done in order to gain newest knowledge within the field is applied in the action and to present the results of C22. This is also done in order to facilitate the realization of complementary projects.

What:
For the purpose of mapping the seepage potential of permeable coating, VIA will establish a climate road, which will function as a test installation with which a number of trials will clarify the following: A) The seepage potential in different types of permeable coating (Figure 49), B) The clean-up potential of pollution components, and C) Clarify the options for incorporating green solutions in the form of geothermal heating/cooling in the climate road.

How:

1. Two workshops: Before the establishment of the climate road, two workshops will be held with stakeholders such as municipal employees, citizens, companies and knowledge institutions, e.g. the Danish Technological Institute. At the workshops, design, types of surfacing that shall be used in the climate road, monitoring strategies and success criteria will be discussed and established. This will ensure that the latest knowledge is included in the project and stakeholder’ ownership for the project. Next, the climate road will be constructed and a baseline will be established for the climate road before the trials begin.
   
   
2. Construction of climate road: The climate road will be built using permeable asphalt, whereas side roads, if these are possible to construct in the project, will be constructed using alternating surfacing.
   
   
3. Infiltration tests: During the first four years and on an ongoing basis, many infiltration tests of the permeable asphalt will be carried out, to assess time-related and seasonal seepage potential.
   
   
4. Purification tests: During the construction of the climate road, different structural constructions of the road will be made in interplay with different types of filter and absorption media to clarify which influence different types of filter and absorption media and their structural design may have on the road’s ability to purify the surface water with regard to xenobiotic substances. To clarify the cleaning effect of the road, a drain will be established in and under the climate road, where discharge concentrations can be monitored on an ongoing basis. To ensure the groundwater is not contaminated, an impermeable membrane will be established in a section under the climate road. This also ensures that the water balance is known. During the project period, samples will be taken on an ongoing basis to determine the filter and sorption media’s physical and chemical soil properties and porosity, hydraulic capability, organic content and concentration of heavy metals and salt.
   
   
5. Geothermal/cooling potential: The degree to which the permeable surfacing can be integrated with geothermal heating/cooling will be examined. Previous studies at VIA have successfully shown that geothermal heat tubing can be incorporated in among other things, asphalt in the underlying road. In the future, climate roads can integrate several environmentally-friendly and sustainable solutions in the same system, which will be a great benefit to society in Denmark and in the EU.

In addition, VIA wants students to be very much included in the work. In collaboration with companies/consultants, the students will work to develop new products and put forward proposals for the design of the subsoil for surfacing and the design of types of surfacing.

Phase 1

Activities related to the abovementioned bulletpoints 1-4.

Phase 2 and beyond

Activities related to the abovementioned bulletpoint 4-5.

Where: The project area will be located at a site in HEDKOM that is close to VIA, so that students have the opportunity to easily carry out trials on the installation

When: Phase 1 - 3

What: 

The climate road itself is a large and innovative infrastructure, that together with the results of C22.1 serve as a great means of presenting climate change, SUDS and environmental concerns to involve politicians, citizens, companies, students and other stakeholders. This is done in the following way:

How:

1. Political discussions of the results and survey of the challenges: Field trip to the climate road and discussion of the challenges and opportunities. Choice of important elements, which shall be clarified and discussed with citizens and stakeholders. The intention is that this will be executed in collaboration with existing innovation networks e.g. “Vand i Byer” (Water in in urban areas).
2. Stakeholder process (landowners, citizens, municipal employees and knowledge institutions):
3. Review of the results from the current project and how they can be used in the future.
4. Execution of two workshops using stakeholder process, where we discuss the advantages, disadvantages, possibilities and consequences of the results.
5. Recommendations to the authorities: in the form of guidelines or handbooks about future working processes for the purpose of establishing climate roads and making permeable coating ready for the market as novel water technology (cf. action C7).
6. Conference: The results are presented to other municipalities and stakeholders facing similar challenges. In this way, it is ensured that experiences from the project are passed on and widely integrated. The intention is that the conference will be held under the auspices of EnviNa or in connection with pipe centre days at the Danish Technological Institute.
7. Other communication: articles will be prepared so that the experiences we have gained through the project can be passed on to the EU.
8. Complementary projects: Preparation of complementary projects based on the results. The intention is that this will be done in collaboration with other EU companies and/or knowledge institutions. Initiation of complementary projects with external co-financing.

Phase 2 and beyond
Activities 1 to 6.
When: 2021-2022

Municipalities acquire a number of tools that will enable them to determine how surface water can be managed with regard to permeable surfacing in urban areas, and thus create a climate resilient cities and with regard to the environment.

The climate road itself will also inspire Danish and foreign authorities, knowledge institutions and companies and push for innovation and business development.

The project’s results and guidelines are to be used by the C2C CC partners and to contribute to innovative complementary projects, which can be replicated in Denmark and in the EU.

One of the constraints are related to stakeholder involvement and whether we will succeed in engaging them in the action. Therefore, experts from the C2C CC Advisory Committee are included in the process and workshops and knowledge sharing in C4 and C5 no on stakeholder involvement will benefit C22.

Another constrain could be that it is logistical challenging to establish the climate road in the urban area. However, as the climate road is planned as a test road connected to an already planned regular road, the climate road will be established at the same time as the rest of the road, which will diminish the constraint. The EIA process of the climate road is included in EIA of this road.

C22.1

The workshops ensures that BAT is used for the establishment of the climate road. The climate road is constructed and in function. Infiltration test and purification tests provide detailed knowledge on the effectiveness of the road as a Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. Possibilities for geothermal/cooling potential is envestigated.

C22.2

Results in wareness raising among politicians on climate change and CCA solutions in dense urban areas, recommendations for authorities and broader communication. This is coordinated with the C2C CC PM unit. The results will also benefit with applications for complementary projects. 

C22.1 will have expenses for external expert consultation in connection with the establishment of the climate road.

Expenses for the construction work are expected to be DKK 1,000,000 based on inquiries. Hedensted Municipality and VIA University College will contribute by providing advice, holding workshops and if required, help with C2C CC actions related to C4, consulting and guidance in connection with the construction phase, monitoring, data processing and the interpretation of data.

Hedensted Municipality will contribute 150 hours and VIA with 3,300 hours. Person hours are calculated on the basis of actual payroll + pensions, etc.

Regarding C22.2, it is expected that Hedensted Municipality and VIA University College will contribute by providing information, reporting and meeting activity in collaboration with politicians and stakeholders. VIA University College will contribute by providing information, preparation of complementary projects, reporting, planning of workshops and the final conference.

General
Phase 1 (2017-2018):

• An online portal with LIFE logo and link to C2C CC main portal: Accessible on www.c2ccc.eu
• Workshop results: PPT presentations published on the portal: Accessible on www.c2ccc.eu

C.22.1

Phase 1 (2017-2018):

• Test installation

Phase 2 (2019-2020):

• Ongoing reporting on the individual permeable surfacing’s time-related infiltration capabilities
• Ongoing reporting on the individual permeable surfacing’s time-related infiltration capabilities under the influence of typical icy road conditions in Denmark, as well as salt and sand spreading
• Sub-report on examination of which filter media the road is best built with to provide the most optimal removal of road-related xenobiotic substances
• Sub-report on examination of the degree to which permeable surfacing can be integrated with geothermal heating/cooling.
• A constructed section of a climate road
• Reporting of results: Reports, workshops, articles and conferences.

C.22.2

Phase 2 (2019-2020):

• Recommendations: Reports and simple handbooks, which are published on the project portal. The results will be presented to conferences in Denmark and aboard. The intention is that this will be executed in collaboration with existing innovation networks, like “Vand i Byer”.”(Water in urban areas).
• VIA University College was invited by the Danish Technology Institute to make an overall report on climate roads togheter with multiple collaborates e.g. the private sector. We used this moppoyunity to extend the cooperation so it also covers the report on recommendations prepared in connection with the stablishment of the climate road. It will undoubtedly make the results of the report better rooted in the industry.
• Finishing conference: Knowledge sharing across municipalities and stakeholders. PPT presentations published on the online portal.
• Complementary projects: complementary project proposals, which is sent for example to EUPD or MUDP.

C22.1

Phase 1:
31/12/2017: One pilot climate road established
31/12/2017: Baseline established for monitoring programme
31/12/2018: First season measurements are evaluated
31/12/2019: Report on recommendations prepared in connection with the establishment of the climate road.

Phase 2:
31/12/2020: Third season monitoring results are evaluated and reported.
31/12/2020: Guidelines and recommendations are finalised - moved to phase 3. No need to stop monitoring before it is necessary
31/12/2020: Results presented on two workshops and one conference
31/12/2020: Report on recommendations prepared in connection with the establishment of the climate road.

Phase 3:
31/12/2021: Fifth season monitoring results are evaluated and reported
31/12/2022: Article about the climate road is made
31/12/2022: Guidelines and recommendations are finalized

C22.2
Phase 2:
31/12/2020: Recommendations to the munipalities and stakeholders prepared in report

Phase 3: 
31/08/2021: Planning of meetings with politicians and stakeholders done
31/12/2021: Field trip done
31/12/2021: Stakeholder integration done
31/12/2021: Workshops held and working groups meet.
31/08/2022: Finishing conference done 
31/08/2022: Pilot project descriptions prepared.
31/12/2022: At least one complementary project description ready for execution.